Jack Draper plans to tap into Andy Murray’s experience when he retires

Jack Draper plans to tap into Andy Murray’s experience when he retires

The 37-year-old is within the ultimate throes of an impressive profession, having confirmed earlier this 12 months that he’s unlikely to play previous the summer season.

Murray has already been a supply of steering and assist for Draper however the 22-year-old is able to faucet into the Scot’s wealth of expertise.

 

“It’s going to be a lot simpler to faucet into him when he has completed,” Draper instructed the PA information company.

“As a tennis participant you don’t have time to think about something however your self. You’re all the time pondering what you are able to do higher.

“When he has stopped I will probably be contacting him much more, asking him for opinions on sure issues, asking him what he has tried and if it has labored for him.

“I’m undoubtedly going to lean on Andy lots and I’m positive he’ll wish to assist me as a result of he has all the time been very supportive of me.

“I feel when he stops he’ll wish to assist extra as a result of he isn’t so targeted on his personal issues.”

Murray, centre, and Draper, proper, have been team-mates for Nice Britain’s Davis Cup facet (Martin Rickett/PA)

With Murray, a double Wimbledon, US Open and two-time Olympic champion, leaving the scene, there are some giant footwear to fill from a British standpoint.

Draper, at present ranked thirty fifth on the earth, has proven he has the expertise to problem on the high of the sport and admits he feels a accountability to take the baton.

“Andy has achieved a lot for British tennis and a lot for the game usually, for me he is without doubt one of the best gamers of all time,” Draper added. “He’s going to have an unbelievable legacy and I do really feel a accountability to guide on from the place he has been.

“I wish to obtain a lot within the sport, it’s not all about successful, it’s about inspiring youngsters to play and making individuals choose up a racket and realizing that tennis isn’t all nearly taking part in on Centre Court docket Wimbledon, it may be superb for therefore many individuals in several methods.”

Andy Murray’s glittering profession is about to finish later this 12 months (Adam Davy/PA)

So, does Draper see himself successful a title on Centre Court docket in the future?

“It will be a dream come true, it will be unimaginable,” he mentioned. “There should not many individuals who get to do it however when I’m working laborious each day I usually take into consideration these moments and lifting up massive trophies and being the participant I wish to be, that feeling is why I play.

“I don’t play for the cash, I’m not a really materialistic individual. I wish to be extremely profitable and obtain what I can within the sport.”

Draper is supporting Play Your Means To Wimbledon – a nationwide competitors with regional and county rounds, which sees winners get the prospect to play within the Nationwide Finals at SW19.

Vodafone, Official Connectivity Companion of Wimbledon, is working with Jack Draper to encourage the following era of tennis gamers via Play Your Means To Wimbledon (Vodafone handout/PA)

This 12 months’s competitors features a new junior wheelchair class, which joins an U14 singles and U18 doubles pathway, an adults’ doubles pathway, plus visually impaired, wheelchair, and studying incapacity pathways.

He added: “That’s the place tennis is seeming to go in an incredible route to get into this stuff the place it’s permitting individuals with all completely different varieties of how to get into sport and to play and compete and be part of one thing.

“Tennis has the power to assist individuals in so many alternative conditions and make tennis actually inclusive. It’s not actually all about being a high participant.”

:: Vodafone, Official Connectivity Companion of Wimbledon, is working with Jack Draper to encourage the following era of tennis gamers via Play Your Means To Wimbledon.