Rising tennis star Carlos Alcaraz is all praise for British player Jack Draper, projecting him as one of the top contenders in the ATP tour within the coming year. The two young sportsmen are set to clash in the semi-finals at Indian Wells, marking the potential of many more electrifying duels in the years ahead.
Draper, who has been handling the mantle of being the successor to tennis legend Andy Murray with remarkable composure, is swiftly climbing the ranks towards the world’s top 10. A victory over Alcaraz in the Indian Wells final would only add another feather to his cap, reinforcing the 23-year-old’s prodigious talent.
Despite losing to Draper at Queen’s last year, Alcaraz has come out on top in their three other encounters, although two of these victories were marred by Draper’s injuries. Looking ahead to their upcoming match on Saturday, Alcaraz sees potential greatness in his British counterpart.
Alcaraz admires Draper’s game, noting his rhythmic play, powerful shots, and the effective use of topspin and serve. He also acknowledges the challenges he faced in their past matches, two of which saw Draper succumbing to injuries. However, their most recent face-off in Australia had Alcaraz excited about the rematch.
Draper’s current form is impressive, according to Alcaraz, who sees him as an ambitious player who always steps up his game, making him a formidable adversary. Alcaraz is confident that Draper will emerge as one of the toughest competitors on the tour in the future or even as soon as next year.
Alcaraz expresses his elation in sharing these competitive moments with Draper and anticipates an exciting match for both the players and the spectators. The Spanish player had invited Draper for a practice session in Spain in December, an invitation Draper had to decline due to an injury.
Commenting on the missed opportunity, Alcaraz shared, “Jack couldn’t make it at the end because of the injury. I was looking forward to practice with him for a week, week and a half.” Despite the setback, Alcaraz considers Draper a ‘really nice guy’ off the court, making it easier to share good moments and practice sessions.
Alcaraz commends Draper’s professionalism, both on and off the court, asserting that he takes the right steps in his career. He sees Draper as one of those players who is a pleasure to practice with, further solidifying their growing camaraderie. As the world watches these two young talents battle it out, one thing is certain – the future of tennis is in promising hands.