After Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner dominated the 2025 ATP season, fans are now eager to see a third player join them at the top of men’s tennis.
While there are a number of stars poised to close the gap on the ‘new two’ in 2026, the frontrunner is arguably British number one Jack Draper.
The 23-year-old, who enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2024, continued to improve this year and achieved a career-high ranking of fourth in the world.
In March, Draper clinched a maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown by winning Indian Wells to bring his career title tally up to three.
Like everyone else on the tour, the Briton remains far away from the level of Sinner and Alcaraz, but Serena Williams‘ former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, thinks he could catch them.
Patrick Mouratoglou talks about Jack Draper’s potential
In an interview with ITV, Mouratoglou said: “I’ve said it several years ago, I think if Jack is able to stay injury-free, he’s a top five [player] for sure.
“He’s potentially someone who can compete with Alcaraz and Sinner. He definitely has everything. I think he has the mind, which is the most important.
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“He’s an incredible competitor, I think he’s very ambitious, and he’s smart. I really like him a lot, and I think he has a big game. He also had a lot of power.
“I mean, his main problem for the last years was too many injuries. And even though he’s played only six months of the year, he was in the top 10.
“So, I mean, it says a lot about how good he can be if he stays injury-free.”
Jack Draper’s record against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Draper is one of the few players on the ATP Tour who has recorded victories against both Alcaraz and Sinner.
He beat the Italian once, overcoming him in the round of 32 at Queen’s in 2021, but was beaten in their second and most recent meeting in the 2024 US Open semifinals.
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Against Alcaraz, Draper has managed to win twice, with the first triumph coming at Queen’s in 2024.
He defeated the Spaniard once again at Indian Wells this year en route to the title, but Alcaraz won their latest meeting at the Italian Open.
Draper trails the head-to-head with Alcaraz 4-2, and is tied with Sinner at one apiece.
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