“Scary” Jack Draper is able to problem for the most important titles in tennis, in line with assistant coach Alex Ward.
The British primary will play Jakub Mensik in his first match on the Miami Open on Saturday as he appears to construct on his good maiden Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells final weekend.
Draper dropped only one set within the Californian desert, combating again from a wobble within the semi-final to defeat Carlos Alcaraz earlier than swatting apart Holger Rune in a one-sided ultimate.
“It’s an enormous achievement,” Ward informed the PA information company. “I believed he might win it however I don’t assume he’d been within the semis of a 1000 occasion earlier than so to cope with the Alcaraz match after which to play superb tennis within the ultimate was very spectacular. It was scary the extent he produced in that ultimate.”
Draper’s long-time coach James Trotman could be very a lot the important thing voice in his ear and was in his nook in Indian Wells and will probably be so once more in Miami.
Former British participant Ward steps in to permit Trotman to have a break from travelling and, having supported Draper on his run to the ultimate in Doha final month, he’ll choose up the baton once more on the clay in Monte Carlo.
Spending time with the 23-year-old has allowed Ward a close-up view of what makes Draper so particular.
“He’s very hungry,” mentioned Ward. “He doesn’t waste any practices and I feel, over a chronic time frame, these small enhancements add up.
“Then he’s 6ft 4in and he’s a lefty, which for tennis is sort of helpful. And he developed a number of expertise, defensive expertise particularly, as a result of he had fairly a late progress spurt. I feel that mixture is deadly.”
Draper’s potential has lengthy been identified and the bodily enhancements he has made have allowed his physique lastly to meet up with his tennis.
It was hanging to listen to Alcaraz say that he struggled to beat nerves as a result of he was so involved concerning the high quality of his opponent.
“I feel lots of people are pondering like that,” mentioned Ward, who additionally works part-time as a Garden Tennis Affiliation coach.
“Many wouldn’t overtly say it however I feel that provides perception into the tour. I truthfully assume lots of people, they’re frightened about Jack after they play him. The highest guys actually respect him and see that he can go even additional.”
Whereas Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, when he returns from his three-month ban, will proceed to start out the grand slams as favourites, Draper can anticipate to be excessive on the record.
Requested whether or not Draper can win a slam this season, Ward added: “He’s not a man who’s performed a number of finals and been knocking on the door for years however, the best way his degree’s progressing and the best way his physicality is bettering, I don’t see why not.”
Being a part of group Draper has additionally allowed Ward, who reached a career-high rating of 242, to be taught from Trotman and see at shut quarters why his partnership with the world quantity seven has been so profitable.
“I feel he’s a fully good coach, he’s an excellent particular person,” mentioned Ward. “He challenges Jack, he’s all the time in search of Jack to enhance, however, on the identical time, Jack is aware of he’s received his again. There’s a lot belief there. I actually consider he’s the most effective coaches, if not the very best coach, I’ve labored with.”
Draper was not the one member of the group to win silverware final weekend, with Ward serving to Britain to victory within the 30-35 class on the ITF Masters World Championships in Turkey.
“It was a enjoyable week,” mentioned the 34-year-old. “I did ship a video on the group chat with Jack and he was pretty complementary however he wasn’t like, ‘Wow, how good’s your degree?’. I don’t assume he’s too frightened.”
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