Jack Draper is continuing to step up his Australian Open preparations, after withdrawing from his first tournament of the 2025 season.
Draper sparked concern after revealing a hip injury, and subsequently withdrew from the Great Britain team at the United Cup.
Despite this, the British number one has been practicing in Melbourne and Draper played a practice set against Holger Rune.
Draper has been stepping up these preparations after practicing with Novak Djokovic, who is being coached by Andy Murray.
Jack Draper describes Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic partnership as unbelievable
Draper was practicing with Djokovic on Rod Laver Arena, the biggest court at the Australian Open that can fit 14,820 spectators.
Reported by Tumaini Carayol on X (formerly known as Twitter), Djokovic took the first set of their practice match 6-3.
This produced a fightback from Draper, who led the second set 3-1 before their practice slot concluded for the day.
When speaking about what it was like to see Djokovic and Murray on the opposite side of the court together, Draper reflected on watching the two tennis legends growing up.
“It’s unbelievable,” answered Draper. “I remember when I was a kid coming to watch Grand Slams, coming to watch Novak and Andy play…“
Would Andy Murray coach Jack Draper?
After playing his final match at the Paris Olympic Games, Draper has been very complimentary towards Murray and revealed that he seeks guidance from his compatriot.
However, when asked about the idea of coaching Draper in July, Murray told Laura Robson that it would be a big commitment to coach any player properly.
“It’s a good question. It depends, really. Initially I want to be at home. I don’t want to travel,” said Murray. “I want to spend time with my family and see my kids growing up as that’s something you miss when you are on the road and the last few years when you have been away for three or four weeks at a time I have found that difficult.
“But with all the British players when I’m at home I will try to help, whenever I can if any of them wanted to I would try my best to make that happen.
“It is a big commitment to coach if you want to do it properly and I would want to make sure I do it properly.”
Four months later it was announced that Murray would coach Djokovic at the Australian Open, that gets underway on Sunday January 12.
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