Jack Draper has secured a top-four seeding position for Wimbledon, marking a significant step in his career.
The leading English player earned this by defeating American Brandon Nakashima in the Queen`s Club Championships quarter-finals with a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, reaching the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time.
The player from Sutton is now potentially on track to meet Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s final at Queen`s. Alcaraz secured his place by beating French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 6-4, extending his winning streak to 16 matches.
However, Draper`s high seeding for Wimbledon means he will avoid facing top contenders like defending champion Alcaraz or world No. 1 Jannik Sinner until at least the semi-finals on Centre Court at SW19.
One notable advantage of being an elite seed is gaining access to the exclusive Gentlemen’s Members’ Dressing Room.
Draper, who is Britain’s highest seed at Wimbledon since Andy Murray topped the seeding list as the defending champion in 2017, expressed his feelings about the achievement.
“This means the world to me,” he said. “This is a definite huge step for me. I remember last year going into the grass ranked around 40.”
“To be inside the top-four come Wimbledon one year around, that’s massive progress. A testament to my team, the dedication I have had for tennis, the work I have put in on a daily basis.”
“You know, I live and breathe the sport and I’m obsessed with progressing. I’m obsessed with becoming the player that I want to become all the time and achieve the things I want to.”
He elaborated on the benefits of being a high seed: “The top-16 seeds get a better changing room. There are some tournaments where it’s top-eight seeds, in the Masters 1000s I’ve had this year.”
“Nothing is different apart from the fact that maybe, potentially, I won’t see Alcaraz or Sinner in the quarters – if I make it there.”
Meanwhile, Andy Murray has stated he is hesitant to pursue TV punditry work at this time, partly to avoid potentially causing annoyance to players like Jack Draper with his comments.
Murray, 38, recalled feeling frustrated during his playing career when former British players, whom he felt did not have comparable achievements, offered him advice.
Now retired, the Scot recently concluded a coaching role with Novak Djokovic and could potentially earn good money as a commentator for broadcasters like the BBC.
However, the two-time Wimbledon singles champion is mindful of speaking to a wide audience and making remarks that the current British No. 1, Draper, 23, might disagree with.
Asked by GQ magazine if he feels compelled to remain in the public eye, Murray replied: “I’m not thinking daily that I need to tweet something or somehow remain relevant.”
“That’s why I’m much more interested in the idea of coaching because I feel like I’d actually really be helping someone. Whereas with punditry, it can be harmful.”
He continued, “If I go and work at, let’s say Wimbledon, you start getting asked questions about British players like Jack Draper. I know when the British ex–tennis players would talk about my tennis and what I should be doing.”
“Because you respect them, you listen to what they’re saying – but it’s not always the same as what your coach is telling you. What the pundits are saying could be wrong. They’re not right all the time, and when you’re young, it’s quite conflicting.”
“So I’d be more inclined to do coaching, because I think punditry is quite an easy gig. You can just throw stuff out there. People love it if it’s a bit controversial, but you don’t actually have any skin in the game.”
In another quarter-final match, Czech player Jiri Lehecka defeated British player Jacob Fearnley 7-5, 6-2. Draper is set to face Lehecka in the semi-finals.
During his match, Fearnley, 23, experienced difficulties, particularly with his serve.
He committed ten double faults and reportedly injured his arm while returning a fast serve. Fearnley commented on the match, stating, “He was serving great. I was serving terrible. At this level you can’t give away that many free points.”
The BBC`s commentary team for Wimbledon is expected to be announced next Monday.
