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John McEnroe delivers his verdict on whether Jack Draper or Emma Raducanu are actually capable of winning a Grand Slam

Split image of Jack Draper of Great Britain looks on against Marin Cilic of Croatia during the Gentlemen's Singles second round match on day four o...
Credit: Visionhaus/Marleen Fouchier/BSR Agency/Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images
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Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu are the current respective British number ones on the ATP and WTA Tours.

Draper was stunned by Marin Cilic in just the second round of Wimbledon this year, despite being ranked at world number four.

While it was a third round exit for Raducanu, who was beaten by Aryna Sabalenka in a competitive match on Centre Court.

John McEnroe had strong views on Draper’s defeat, and now he has predicted whether either British number one can lift a Grand Slam title in the future.

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain during Day Five of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
Photo by Marleen Fouchier/BSR Agency/Getty Images

John McEnroe says if he thinks Jack Draper or Emma Raducanu can win a major in the future

Raducanu already knows what it feels like to win a Grand Slam, as the only qualifier in history to have done so when she shocked the world by winning the 2021 US Open.

This is something that McEnroe believes could help Raducanu in the future, with the American suggesting that Draper’s best opportunity to win a major would be on hard courts.

“She has actually won one. So when you have won one for me you can always win another one,” McEnroe said about Raducanu on BBC radio show 6-Love-6. “Draper I think he has got that in him. I was surprised he to me got tight. It was a tough draw to play Cilic second round.

“Right now to me his most likely Slam to win would be on hard courts. He hasn’t quite figured out the nuances of grass. He is too far back, too passive off returns, so he has got to improve that part of his game. But I think ultimately this surface should suit him pretty well.”

Responding to McEnroe, former British number one and six-time Grand Slam semi-finalist Tim Henman praised Draper’s hard court game, but also backed him to figure out the grass.

“I was there in New York when he made the semis,” said Henman. “He does look comfortable on hard. He has a little bit more time on his ground strokes.

“His movement is very aggressive. He is strong but I think on grass he needs to learn to glide a little bit more. But he is still very young.”

Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu’s Grand Slam Record

Both Draper and Raducanu have had their best Grand Slam results on the hard courts of the US Open.

Raducanu won the US Open title in just her second ever appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam, while Draper reached the semi-finals last year.

However, they have had differing results at their home Grand Slam of Wimbledon, which is actually Draper’s weakest major tournament in terms of results.

Grand SlamJack DraperEmma Raducanu
Australian OpenFourth Round (2025)Third Round (2025)
Roland GarrosFourth Round (2025)Second Round (2022 & 2025)
WimbledonSecond Round (2022, 2024 & 2025)Fourth Round (2021 & 2024)
US OpenSemi-final (2024)Won the title (2021)

Draper will remain as the British number one after Wimbledon, while Raducanu is actually set to drop down to British number three following the conclusion of the grass court major.

Both players will now switch their attention to the North American hard court season, as they look to repeat previous successes at the US Open.