Despite Britain’s reputation as a Grand Slam nation, tennis prodigy Jack Draper is raising eyebrows with his critique of the UK’s tennis culture. Despite the 23-year-old’s success on the ATP Tour, including two title wins and a career-best world ranking of 12, Draper has expressed his concern that the UK is lagging behind other tennis-loving nations.
Draper’s comments come at a time when he is performing at his peak. His 2024 season was marked by significant breakthroughs, with two title wins, a climb to the top 15, and a semi-final spot at the US Open. He has been off to a strong start in 2025 as well, having reached the second week of the Australian Open, recuperating from an injury to reach the Doha final, and currently making his way to the Indian Wells quarter-final.
Even with his personal accomplishments, Draper has voiced his belief that tennis in the UK is on the back foot compared to countries like Italy, France, and Spain. He acknowledges the influence of Wimbledon, one of the world’s biggest sporting events, and the inspirational figures like Andy Murray on his career, yet he insists that the love for tennis in the UK is not as fervent as in other nations.
However, Draper is not just pointing out the problem; he’s also hinting at a solution. He, along with fellow rising star Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, hope to rekindle the UK’s passion for tennis. Draper believes that with the emergence of new top players like himself and Raducanu, they can put on a great show and inspire many to take up the sport.
The UK has indeed been fortunate to have the likes of Murray, who achieved nearly everything in the sport, including three Grand Slam titles, two Olympic gold medals, the ATP Finals, and 40 other tour-level titles. He also topped the world ranking. Raducanu followed in his footsteps, making history as the first qualifier ever to win a Grand Slam, at the tender age of 18 and in just her fourth professional event.
Draper is now aiming for a major title of his own, possibly at Indian Wells, the season’s first Masters 1000 event, often referred to as the ‘fifth Grand Slam’. With such promising talent on the horizon, it remains to be seen whether Draper’s critique will serve as a wake-up call, sparking a renewed interest and love for tennis in the UK.
