'Draper running with the baton passed by Murray'

Jack Draper has agelong been seen arsenic the earthy successor to Andy Murray arsenic the king of British tennis.

So, successful the archetypal large tourney since the retiring Murray abdicated, it feels apt Draper has enjoyed the champion Grand Slam tally of his career.

The 22-year-old left-hander has surged into the US Open quarter-finals, becoming the archetypal British antheral to scope this signifier since his idol Murray successful 2016.

The baton from Murray had already been passed. Now Draper is starting to tally with it.

"To travel successful Andy's footsteps, it's a large accomplishment for me," said satellite fig 25 Draper, who faces Australian 10th effect Alex de Minaur oregon his compatriot Jordan Thompson successful the past 8 connected Wednesday.

"I cognize that there's inactive country for betterment and inactive country to hopefully spell further."

The mode successful which helium brushed speech Czech hostile Tomas Machac - a talented subordinate who galore consciousness has the quality to beryllium ranked higher - successful the erstwhile circular was an denotation of his intent.

Draper's show was described arsenic a "masterclass" by erstwhile British fig 1 Tim Henman.

"He has been satellite class," added Henman, watching courtside successful his relation arsenic an expert for Sky Sports. "It is simply a existent connection to the locker room."

At a US Open wherever Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz mislaid aboriginal on, and lone Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner person antecedently won large titles, Draper has played himself into the mix.

When Murray said a fewer months agone helium thought Draper could get "right to the apical of the game", cipher thought it was outlandish.

The Scot's appraisal came moments aft Draper won his archetypal ATP rubric and became the youngest British men's fig 1 since him successful 2009.

"Jack, I think, has bigger goals to aspire to than being British fig one," said three-time large champion Murray, who reached the apical of the satellite rankings successful 2016.

In response, Draper agreed. He had not thought astir being his nation's champion subordinate due to the fact that helium was solely focused connected becoming the world's starring man.

Draper oozes assurance without immoderate hint of arrogance. He besides has the tools to occupation immoderate opponent.

Possessing a dense archetypal service which rocks opponents, the quality to deed explosively with his forehand and the willingness to adhd successful assortment erstwhile necessary, helium has confidently breezed done the US Open draw.

Playing with calmness and clarity, Draper has not dropped a acceptable and is demonstrating an assurance which has forced opponents into submission.

That composed demeanour remained aft helium clinched triumph against Machac, responding with simply a shingle of the racquet and a steely glare towards his team.

"Anybody who is pursuing satellite tennis would hold that Jack has got immense imaginable and a subordinate that tin surely connected his time execute with the champion players of the world," his manager James Trotman told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"He's shown that connected galore occasions, but to travel into the Grand Slam and to beryllium successful the quarters here, his longest tally truthful far, I deliberation is an unthinkable accomplishment and let's effort and support it rolling."

On court, helium has been businesslike and utterly focused.

Off the tribunal it has been the aforesaid mindset.

New York mightiness beryllium known arsenic The City That Never Sleeps, possessing a buzz and an vigor which tin pb to temptation.

But Draper's accrued professionalism means he has been sticking to takeaway nutrient deliveries and watching movies successful his Manhattan hotel., external

"I emotion playing connected the large signifier but I person had to power my emotions," said Draper, who has besides bounced backmost from facing "difficult" disapproval after a arguable incidental successful Cincinnati past month.

"When you get these moments wherever your vigor drops, particularly successful a champion of 5 sets which is going to happen, trying to enactment contiguous and trying to not spell distant from what you're trying to achieve."

Many successful British tennis circles person known for a agelong clip that Draper had the endowment to gain a spot among the world's best.

Glimpses of his earthy quality were evident erstwhile helium reached the Wimbledon boys' last successful 2018.

Taking a acceptable disconnected Novak Djokovic connected his Wimbledon debut arsenic a teen successful 2021 made adjacent much radical instrumentality notice.

Then the 2022 and 2023 seasons were blighted by the carnal issues which hampered Draper's progress.

On the backmost of a bid of injuries and mid-match retirements, a enarthrosis occupation ended his French Open run past twelvemonth - starring to Draper lamenting being "the feline who's injured a lot".

It besides ruled him retired of the full British grass-court season.

"My assemblage was conscionable made of solid astatine that point," reflected Draper, who was ranked 123rd astatine past year's US Open.

Now acceptable and injury-free, helium is enjoying the fruits of hard labour gathering up his body.

Starting to enactment again with fittingness trainer Steve Kotze, who Draper describes arsenic "one of the champion successful the world", has been a catalyst.

Physio Will Herbert, the antheral known arsenic "The Mechanic" by Emma Raducanu for his enactment during her fairytale tally to the 2021 US Open title, is different cardinal subordinate of Draper's team.

Becoming much robust has to led to that archetypal ATP rubric successful Stuttgart, which helium followed by beating Alcaraz astatine Queen's, earlier this breakout tally successful New York.

"He's a large quality being, he's had his pugnacious times, was making advancement and past thing would hap - that was pugnacious to instrumentality for him," said British Davis Cup skipper Leon Smith.

"He's precise ambitious and perfectly loves the sport.

"Now for the archetypal clip he's had a play of clip where's been capable to person a tally astatine it."

As good arsenic thriving nether the spotlight connected court, Draper is wholly astatine easiness with attraction disconnected it.

Glamorous photoshoots with stylish manner magazines - teaming up with chap British subordinate Katie Boulter for Tatler past twelvemonth earlier precocious appearing successful Vogue connected his ain - has shown his entreaty to wider markets.

"I rather bask being successful beforehand of the camera, if I'm looking good, that is," Draper quipped to Vogue.

Another denotation of his prima entreaty was the show of Anna Wintour, the Vogue editor-in-chief, sat with his enactment squad during the Machac masterclass.

Despite attracting the glitz and glamour, location is wherever the bosom is for Draper - who precocious moved retired of shared digs with chap British subordinate Paul Jubb and into his ain spot successful south-west London.

He precocious described his imagination vacation was "home", external due to the fact that helium is hardly ever there.

Describing himself arsenic a "big household guy", the enactment of his nearest and dearest has been crucial.

Draper's parent Nicky - who the subordinate credits arsenic 1 of his biggest influences - is simply a manager and erstwhile inferior champion, portion begetter Roger was the main enforcement of the Lawn Tennis Association.

His member Ben, a erstwhile assemblage subordinate successful the United States, is his agent.

While helium is described arsenic a "tennis keeno" by erstwhile British subordinate Laura Robson, Draper is besides a antheral with varied interests disconnected the court.

As good arsenic the fashion, helium is simply a shot instrumentality who follows Manchester United and besides loves listening to Oasis.

Bagging a summons for the Gallagher brothers' reunion astatine Wembley Stadium has been discussed by Draper portion successful New York - but, with tennis his sole absorption arsenic Britain battled to get tickets, helium volition person to rotation with it.