‘Jack Draper will be the next new Grand Slam champion’, predict former world No 1s
Andy Roddick and Tracy Austin have backed Jack Draper to be the next new Grand Slam champion in men’s tennis.
Draper is viewed by many analysts as a genuine title contender at this year’s Wimbledon Championships.
The 23-year-old Brit has enjoyed a hugely impressive rise in the past year, having surged from a ranking of 40th in June 2024 to a career-high position of fourth earlier this month.
Speaking on Tennis Channel, Roddick heaped praise on Draper’s development while also highlighting the pressure he will face as the leading Brit at Wimbledon.
“I love Jack Draper, I think his game is so complete. I think he returns well, he just absolutely… rip city on forehands, the lefty serve,” the former world No 1 said.
“He can actually do things that can bother Carlos [Alcaraz] and [Jannik] Sinner and I think he can actually grind out enough holds.
“Now, I remember playing Andy Murray at Wimbledon and you open up the paper an the first six page on everything are al Murray. Like what bar he was eating during warmup, like it almost becomes stupid at some point.
“So who knows how he (Draper) will deal with it. I do think it will be easier since Murray got through and actually won twice. It’s not as if he’s fighting ghosts of history, Murray will be right there, but I love Jack Draper too.”
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Asked who will be the next man not named Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz to win a major, Roddick picked Draper over Alexander Zverev.
“Draper. I just think he has — leaps and bounds the fitness has improved,” the 2003 US Open winner assessed.
“The backhand I think was a weakness up until about 18 months ago. Then he established where he could drill it middle and cross. Now he’s even taking swings up the line.
“The forehand is next level, especially when he has time. Seems like he’s fluent on every surface, went and made a final of a Masters 1000 in Madrid.
“So if you look at that next list, I think Zverev is right there. I think he’s the best player ever that hasn’t won a major.
“His resume outside of that is a Hall of Fame resume with Masters 1000s and rankings and matches won, but obviously there’s a glaring hole and I think that’s kind of had an effect. And how wouldn’t it? Every single day he gets asked about it. So I guess I’m going Draper.”
Tracy Austin, a two-time US Open champion and former world No 1, agreed with Roddick.
“I would go with Draper,” said Austin. “I think the amount of firepower that he has, the big serve, who would want to return that serve? The ability to hit the can opener, the kick, everything, he can body serve you.
“And then I think Draper has gotten so much better in the forecourt. His backhand — he commits to now. That was a shot you could get to before and maybe get a little bit of a reprieve, a breathing room, but not so much anymore.
“And then the forehand, it’s like a howitzer. And how about the confidence? I think him winning Indian Wells is like the last checkmark, winning a big title, match after match after match.”
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