Fresh off his monumental triumph at the Indian Wells Masters, Britain’s leading tennis star, Jack Draper, is setting his sights on the Miami Open, setting the stage for a potential Sunshine Double. The 23-year-old tennis sensation, currently world number seven, is not shy about his ambitions, stating confidently that he believes he can match up against any competitor in the field.
Draper’s recent victory at Indian Wells was a career-defining moment, culminating in a semi-final victory against Carlos Alcaraz. Now, the audacious Brit is aiming to replicate the rare feat of clinching both the California and Florida titles in the same year, a feat last achieved by tennis legend Roger Federer in 2017. In fact, only three players have managed this double win in the 21st century – Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andre Agassi. Overall, just seven players have ever managed this historic achievement.
This Saturday, Draper will start his quest against Jakub Mensik, world number 54 from the Czech Republic. The British number one enters the competition on a six-match winning streak and is seeded sixth for the tournament. Speaking to Sky Sports, Draper reflected on the confidence boost his recent win has given him and his belief in his ability to compete against the best.
“The victory last week really boosted my self-confidence. The tournament is filled with exceptional talent, but my triumph at the 1000 last week and the players I defeated have instilled in me a belief that I can take on anyone,” Draper said. Despite this, he remains grounded, acknowledging the tough matches ahead and emphasizing the importance of taking each match as it comes.
Meanwhile, six-time Miami champion Novak Djokovic has been making headlines of his own. The 24-time Grand Slam winner, who is also a co-founder of the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA), has spoken out about the recent controversial lawsuit filed by the association. Despite his name being absent from the list of plaintiffs, Djokovic expressed his hope for uniting all governing bodies, including the PTPA, to resolve the issues at hand.
Djokovic, during his pre-tournament press conference, candidly shared his mixed feelings about the lawsuit, agreeing with some aspects while expressing reservations about others. “There are elements of the lawsuit I agree with, and others that I don’t. Although some of the language used seemed quite strong, I trust that the legal team knows what they’re doing,” he stated.
As the Miami Open unfolds, all eyes will certainly be on Draper as he attempts to make history, and Djokovic, who continues to be a key figure both on and off the court.