Britain's Jack Draper, ranked No. 1 in the world, has achieved a major breakthrough in 2024, winning his first two ATP Tour titles and reaching the semi-finals of the US Open.
The Londoner pocketed more than £2 million in prize money and rose to 15th in the world rankings after 39 victories in 61 matches.
Draper will miss the United Cup with a thigh injury – which has also prevented him from attending a training camp with four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz – but hopes to be fit for the Australian Open in Melbourne from January 12.
“Honestly, I wasn't able to train the way I wanted to,” he said. “My preparations may not be the best for Australia.”
“But that's the way it is in sport, you have to deal with the highs and the lows. I hope I give myself the best chance of playing well.”
When might Draper be next in action on Sky Sports?
The left-hander is not expected to play in any of the events before the first Grand Slam of the season, while he has already decided not to face his country in the Davis Cup with Japan in late January.
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After reaching the US Open semi-finals, Martina Navratilova believes Draper can continue to go far at the Grand Slam in 2025
There is an ATP 250 event in Montpellier starting on January 27. Before February, he will see competitions in Dallas, Rotterdam, Delray Beach, Buenos Aires, Marseille, Rio de Janeiro, Doha, Dubai, Acapulco and Santiago for Draper to choose from.
March is then dominated by the big Masters 1000 tournaments on hard courts in Indian Wells and Miami, before the clay court season features similar tournaments in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome, before the French Open from May 25 to June 8. .
Wimbledon will be held from June 30 to July 15, before Draper returns to Flushing Meadows, live on Sky Sports, to participate in the US Open from August 30 to September 2.
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Draper defeated Karen Khachanov to win the Vienna Open and claim his first ATP 500 title.
What did Draper achieve in 2024?
Ater suffered his second defeat in as many ATP Finals in January – losing to Jiri Lehicka at the Adelaide International after coming up short against Adrian Mannarino in Sofia last November – Draper won his next ATP Finals in 2024, on grass in Stuttgart and then indoor hard courts in Vienna.
The Sutton-born player came back from a set down to defeat Mario Berrettini in Germany last June to claim his first ATP 250 title and then lifted it to the 500 title four months later when he beat Karen Khachanov in straight sets in Austria.
Other notable match wins included defeating Alcaraz in Queens and Alex de Minaur in the US Open, while also scoring two victories over another pair of top 10 players in Hubert Hurkacz (in Japan) and Taylor Fritz (in Paris).
He battled bravely against world number one Jannik Sinner before losing in three sets in the US Open semi-final, with a run to the quarter-finals leaving him a chance of reaching the season-ending ATP Tour Finals before those hopes are dashed. Defeated by De Minaur in the round of 16 in Paris.
Draper will also be disappointed by his second-round loss at Wimbledon – to compatriot Cameron Norrie – and perhaps because he was unable to back up his win over Alcaraz in Queens, falling to Tommy Paul in the next round.
Draper is ready to 'change' the top players in 2025
“I have that inner belief now,” Draper said. “I will come back again next year with even more motivation to change those guys at the top of the game – the likes of Sinner and Alcaraz.
“Winning my first title, and then the US Open, was a huge influence in believing that I really belonged. It's been a snowball effect ever since.”
“If I can continue to improve physically, and gain more experience at this top level against the best players, then I will give myself a chance to compete with these players. But there is a lot of work I have to do.”
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Draper sat down with Gigi Salmon to discuss his career so far, dealing with the demands of the ATP Tour and realizing his potential in 2025
“As a young player, I'm still learning how to deal with the demands of playing on tour, week in and week out, week in and week out, against a lot of these guys.
“I've only played 120 matches on tour. A lot of them have played 400, 500. How much I've improved mentally, physically and emotionally in the last 40 matches – it's a big difference.
“So I think I'm so far behind, and still being able to achieve what I've been doing, I think I just need a little more time.”
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