Jack Draper has recorded the biggest win in his career just yesterday, and in doing so cruised into the Queen’s quarter-finals.
Facing Carlos Alcaraz, many thought the Great British star could trouble the world number two.
However, few expected he would win as comfortably as he did, with his thunderous serves proving too hot for the Spaniard to handle.
It seems another young English star is emerging just when the country needed a new male to support, and the future is exceedingly bright with him on the court.
Andrew Castle points out ‘scary’ Jack Draper trait
Speaking live on BBC Sport just yesterday, the pundit would outline what is most frightening about the 22-year-old after his landmark win.
He noted: ‘Playing the big points at the right time. If you have a sense of belonging, if you feel you have a right to deserve success, it’s amazing how many things go your way.
‘He has done the work physically, he has been out there for a few years, he was denied a grass court season last year and he’s not going to let this go. There’s this sense of and it’s not just about himself, it’s about others noting, he is a part of the biggest game now. Moments like that are not a surprise to him or anyone else in the locker room. He’s a star tennis player now.
‘And isn’t it strange how 24 hours after Andy. The button really feels like it has been passed. It’s incredible. It’s almost like here you go your turn. Whether or not Jack can be a grand slam champion I don’t know, but he is certainly demonstrating he can beat them, so why not?
‘How are you supposed to defend against the serve? It’s almost at a point now where if he plays his game he is going to win. That’s scary because he’s going to get even bigger and stronger over the next two or three years.’
Great British tennis seems in safe hands after Andy Murray injury
It seems almost poetic that Draper enjoyed such a historic win just a day after Andy Murray hobbled off that same Queen’s court, having retired through injury.
The Scotsman has held the torch for Great British tennis for two decades now, and his efforts have seen him regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation.
However, the last five years or so have been tough to watch, ever since his 2019 hip surgery.
His mobility has been scuppered and his results have suffered, yet he continues to command wild support wherever he goes.
But with it being widely regarded that Andy Murray’s injuries may soon retire him, Great Britain needed someone else to step up on the men’s side, with Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu impressing for the women.
Fortunately, Draper has now emerged as a real contender, and with Wimbledon just around the corner, there is nobody in the world who would relish seeing him in their portion of the draw.
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