Jimmy Connors told the ATP youngster he could ‘easily’ make a top 10 player if he became his new coach

Follow us on Google Discover

Jimmy Connors certainly knows what it takes to coach a world-class star, having worked with both Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova.

Connors enjoyed coaching Roddick, with the latter winning four of his seven finals reached under the former between 2006 and 2008.

The eight-time Grand Slam champion also coached Eugenie Bouchard after his glittering playing career came to an end.

He is very much still involved in the game, but American icon Connors has taken a back seat in more recent times.

The former left-hander reached world number one during his career, winning a phenomenal 109 ATP Tour-level titles.

Jimmy Connors told he could make Jack Draper a top 10 player

Connors would love to coach Alexander Zverev, but his former doubles partner Spencer Segura believes another top 20 player would be a much better fit.

Discussing British number one Jack Draper on the Advantage Connors podcast, Segura said: “The guy has everything. He has a tremendous game. I don’t know mentally if he has it, at all.

READ MORE: What Jack Draper has been doing during the off-season as he prepares for the Australian Open in 2025

“You could coach him. If Connors coached him and gave him real confidence and worked on his confidence, he just needs confidence and to believe in himself.

“He is a lefty, has a huge, dipping big serve, big forehand, big backhand. If Jim could take him, he could make him a top five player, or top 10 easy. I would give it a year. But he would have to listen and be willing to try the thing.”

Where did Jack Draper rank for ATP Tour serving in 2024?

Draper enjoyed a fantastic breakout season in 2024, epitomised by his stunning semi-final run at the US Open.

But the 23-year-old Briton also reached world number 15 thanks to his first tour-level titles in Stuttgart and Vienna.

READ MORE: Tim Henman responds when asked if Jack Draper can win a Grand Slam title in 2025

Such a rise was certainly helped by his fantastic serving, with Draper ranked fourth on the ATP Tour in 2024 for percentage of first serve points won (78.25%).

An even better ranking of third was achieved regarding percentage of break points converted (43.78%), with top 10 finishes for percentage of return games won (24.83%) and aces hit (486).

Given his recent injury issues, a top 10 ranking may not be on his mind at this moment in time, but it certainly doesn’t look like being too far away from being achieved.