Jack Draper, who took after as British No 1 earlier this year, is ready to fill the gap left by the three-time Grand Slam title winner Andy Murray.
Tokyo: US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper says he is ready for the “responsibility” of leading British tennis but thinks it is “unrealistic” to match the achievements of retired great Andy Murray. Draper this month became the first British man to reach the US Open semi-finals since Murray won the title there 12 years ago.
The 22-year-old lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner of Italy, who described his beaten opponent as a future Grand Slam champion.
Draper took over as Britain’s men’s number one for the first time in June this year, just over a month before Murray retired at the Paris Olympics.
Huge responsibility
Draper says he is ready to fill the gap left by the three-time Grand Slam title winner. “I see it as a responsibility to be the person who’s performing,” Draper said after moving into the Japan Open quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-4 win over No 2 seed Hubert Hurkacz on Friday.
“Andy has had a lot of success over a long period of time, and my biggest respect for him was that he did that with a lot of pressure on his shoulders, especially around Wimbledon time.
“I see it as a responsibility to achieve great things for myself and for British tennis,” he added. Murray famously ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s champion at Wimbledon when he beat Novak Djokovic in the 2013 final.
He added a second Wimbledon title in 2016 and also won the US Open in 2012 and Olympic gold in both 2012 and 2016. ‘Fulfil my potential’
Draper won his first career ATP title in Stuttgart in June, and said Friday that it was “a tough thing trying to be the next Andy Murray”.
“I’m not thinking of achieving what he’s achieved because I think that would be unrealistic right now,” said Draper.
“I’m going to try and do everything I can to fulfil my potential, whatever that looks like.
