Jack Draper makes big Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner claim ahead of Wimbledon

Kevin Palmer 16 Jun 2025 9:00 AM

Jack Draper practicing at Queen's Club

Jack Draper has vowed to do all he can to challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the top of the men’s game, as he prepares for his first big summer in the glare of the Wimbledon spotlight.

Draper has been one of the stand-out performers in the tennis year, with his breakthrough ATP Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells backed up by his rise into the top four of the ATP Rankings.

Now he is set to be thrust onto centre stage in a British tennis summer, with the media already hyping up the stories around the great home hope for the third Grand Slam of 2025.

World No 1 Sinner and defending Wimbledon champion Alcaraz are the favourites heading into Wimbledon, but Draper is convinced he is ready to get in the mix to challenge them, as he was asked to reflect on their sensational final at the French Open earlier this month.

“I watched it in my flat,” he said, as he reflected on the Roland Garros epic.

More Tennis News

Carlos Alcaraz handed a daunting draw as he prepares to return to action

Jack Draper gets some pointed advice from Tim Henman after French Open exit

“I watched the last three sets there, unbelievable tennis. I think it inspired all the players. I think it captured the attention of all the spectators and all people around the world, and even people who aren’t into tennis as well.

“It was one of those sporting moments where I think everyone was embraced by it. So I think Jannik and Carlos did an unbelievable show there. A shame someone had to lose. But that’s the nature of sport. I think tennis won for sure.

“Can I get to that level? Yeah, I think so. The tennis they were playing, I think that was a combination of them two together. I think it was the moment they were in. My friend said to me when we were watching them play: ‘How are they playing this way after five hours or something like that?’

“And I said: ‘I don’t think they are thinking about anything. I think they are just thinking about playing.’ I don’t know what I’m capable of yet, but I aspire to be at that level. What those guys are doing is setting the way and changing the game. Players like myself are going to be working very hard to get to that point. That’s 100 per cent for sure.

“It helps players like myself, helps the game in general, to keep on moving in the right direction and keep developing. Because obviously, the spectators were brilliant. The players could feel it as well. When you haven’t got, say Rafa, Roger, Novak or Andy in the changing rooms.

“I know it’s a bit different, but having players who are asserting themselves in that room, I think that’s amazing for tennis. Hopefully there are more of those. Because they’re going to keep on improving and make us better. They’re going to hopefully keep producing more and more great players and great levels.

“Those two guys [Alcaraz and Sinner] are really setting the way and I’m looking forward to chasing them down.

“I don’t know what I’m capable of yet, but I aspire to be at that level. What those guys are doing is setting the way and it’s changing the game. Players like myself are going to be working very hard to get to that point, that’s for sure.

Draper is a strong contender to become the first Brit to win the Queen’s Club title since Andy Murray and he is relishing the challenge of a summer that could see him mount his first big push for the Wimbledon title.

“I’m very proud to be here at Queen’s and to be the No 2 seed,” he stated. “I’ve come a long way since I played Jannik (Sinner) here in 2021 and I’m really proud of the position I’m in and how my tennis is improving.

“I think there’s no secret I’d love to do amazingly well this week but Wimbledon would be a priority for me. I think it’s always an interesting one, that first match or tournament on the grass, there’s a lot of players who maybe aren’t amazingly prepared.

“We’ve just come from a surface where we’re grinding out points, having to win the point seven times on the trot to get one point. So, coming onto a fast surface, the margins are small but I’m feeling good and I’m ready to compete as hard as possible.

“It’s a home tournament for me as well, so that’s an added motivation for me to do well here as well.”