Jack Draper enjoyed the best year of his career in 2025 as he broke into the world’s top 15 for the first time.
It was a fantastic year for the British number one on the ATP Tour as he won the biggest title of his career, and reached a maiden Grand Slam semi-final.
Having never previously reached the last eight of a Grand Slam, Draper reached the semi-finals of the US Open, losing to Jannik Sinner in straight sets.
Draper then won the Vienna Open, his first title at the ATP 500 level, taking down Russia’s Karen Khachanov in the final.
A fantastic year for Draper and one that has the tennis world excited for what is to come, as one former Major champion has now given his thoughts on the British star.
Andy Roddick says he was impressed by Jack Draper’s size when he saw him recently as he reveals his biggest ‘hurdle’ for 2025
Speaking on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, former world number one Andy Roddick recalled what he thought when walking past the British number one in the locker room recently.
“I have seen him for a couple of years, big lefty serve,” he said.
“He looks like he could play football somewhere.
“I walked past him in the locker room and was instantly impressed by his size.
“He was bigger and stronger than I thought, the way he presents on TV.
“I think it’s because he wears baggy clothing, it’s not a joke.”
Roddick went on to pinpoint the area that Draper needs to focus on improving in 2025.
“There is a lane where he could become better, because right now the match against Jannik Sinner, straight sets and he said physically he got the better of me,” he said.
“I think Jack Draper has a little bit of a physical hurdle.
“You would have to be on his team to know if that’s humidity, length of match, physicality, I am not sure.
“But I have to imagine the book in the locker room right now is that if you can get him into an extended match, five sets, what does the recovery look like?
“The good news for him is that fitness is largely a choice, beyond nerves and those will subside the more you are in specific situations.”
Draper vomited during defeat to Sinner at the US Open earlier this year, as his physical health came into question once more.
Despite his physical problems, Roddick was impressed by the improvements the Brit made to his game last year, and predicts big things for him in 2025.
“The backhand got way better,” he said.
“He wasn’t trying to [hit] winners down the line, he found this nice thing where he would really take aggressive swings but not scared to miss middle.
“Wasn’t trying to force it into corners, he was challenging people, okay, you have to find my backhand but I am going to drill it deep into the court and I have a bunch of space between us.
“A lot of upside for Draper got to think he’s in the top ten sooner rather than later.”
Will Jack Draper be fit for the 2025 Australian Open?
Having finished 2024 on a high, Draper was set to begin his preparations for the Australian Open this week.
Unfortunately for the Brit, Draper withdrew from the United Cup with a hip injury, as his participation in the opening Grand Slam of the season is now under threat.
Fans first heard about the injury earlier in the off-season as Draper cancelled his training with Carlos Alcaraz, missing out on a great opportunity to train with one of the world’s best players.
Having struggled with injury for a while now, the likelihood of Draper taking part in Melbourne is unknown, but he now only has ten days until the first round of matches get underway.
Draper has won just one match at the Australian Open in his career to date, taking down Marcos Giron in five sets last year, but will hope to be fit to add to that tally this time around.
The 2025 Australian Open is set to begin on January 12.
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