British hopefuls including Jack Draper and Cam Norrie have both started their Wimbledon campaigns brightly.
After Andy Murray’s withdrawal from the men’s singles at Wimbledon, Jack Draper’s match against Sweden’s Elias Ymer was moved to Centre Court.
A topsy-turvy affair saw the dynamic Swede push Draper all the way with the British No 1 eventually getting the job done in five sets to the relief of the anxious home crowd.
The 22-year-old has been flying high on the grass so far this year, picking up his first ATP Tour title in Stuttgart in June.
Who does Jack Draper think the next British tennis star might be?
Speaking in his press conference after the match via the official Wimbledon website, Draper divulged his relationship with fellow British player Jacob Fearnley, who faces the stern test of seven-time champion Novak Djokovic tomorrow.
Draper said: “I think there is a few guys who have gone to university that I spent lots of time with when I was younger who were top players at under-12 and under-14 and they probably weren’t ready to go pro.
“Jacob Fearnley is one of those. But if you look at his results he hasn’t lost many matches on the 25’s and the challengers.
“I think he will be someone who rises up very quickly in the rankings. It will be interesting to see how he gets on against Djokovic. He is an amazing player and a good guy too.”
Despite both players being 22 years old, Fearnley has significantly less experience on the ATP Tour and is ranked 200 positions lower than Draper who currently sits at a career-high ranking of 28.
Draper’s supreme movement and beautiful strokes have carried him to astonishing wins over Carlos Alcaraz and Matteo Berrettini within the last month, with British fans yearning for another
What is Jacob Fearnley’s form like?
Bursting onto the scene, the run-up to Wimbledon has seen Fearnley enjoy the green stuff, with a statement win in Nottingham guiding him to his first ATP Challenger Singles Title in June, with the year prior seeing him sail to victory in the doubles.
For his Grand Slam singles debut, he received a wildcard for the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, recording his first major win over debutant Alejandro Moro Canas in the opening round and moving him into the top 225 in the ATP rankings.
The first round allowed many a first glimpse at what Fearnley has to offer, and with an impressive catalog of shots, as well as a remarkable early career having beaten Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as a junior, the Brit may finally have made the senior breakthrough he’s been craving.
While it’s fair to say Fearnley may have his work cut out going up against the 24-time major winner Djokovic, British tennis still looks primed to produce the next wave of stars.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
