"Can I get to that level? Yeah, I think so": Jack Draper looks ahead to Wimbledon as he promises to do everything he can to win

Great Britain’s Jack Draper has been on fire this season, enjoying a true breakthrough campaign filled with memorable victories and a few agonising defeats.

Draper has shown mostly inspired form this year, rising up the ATP rankings—thanks in part to a remarkable triumph at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells. Now sitting at number four in the world, Draper has vowed to give everything as he sets his sights on competing with French Open finalists Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at this year’s Wimbledon. Poised to make a major impact during the grass-court swing, many are tipping him for a potential maiden Grand Slam title and an overall summer to remember for British sport.

Of course, heading into Wimbledon, Sinner and Alcaraz remain the top favourites, but Draper is confident in his own ability to shake things up. Ranked fourth in the world, there’s every reason to believe he can make a deep run on home turf.

Draper spoke on his thoughts after watching the French Open final: “I watched the last three sets there, unbelievable tennis. I think it inspired all the players. I think it captured the attention of all the spectators and all people around the world, and even people who aren’t into tennis as well".

“It was one of those sporting moments where I think everyone was embraced by it. So I think Jannik and Carlos did an unbelievable show there. A shame someone had to lose. But that’s the nature of sport. I think tennis won for sure".

"Can I get to that level? Yeah, I think so. The tennis they were playing, I think that was a combination of them two together. I think it was the moment they were in. My friend said to me when we were watching them play: ‘How are they playing this way after five hours or something like that?".

“And I said: ‘I don’t think they are thinking about anything. I think they are just thinking about playing.’ I don’t know what I’m capable of yet, but I aspire to be at that level. What those guys are doing is setting the way and changing the game. Players like myself are going to be working very hard to get to that point. That’s 100 per cent for sure".

“It helps players like myself, helps the game in general, to keep on moving in the right direction and keep developing. Because obviously, the spectators were brilliant. The players could feel it as well. When you haven’t got, say Rafa, Roger, Novak or Andy in the changing rooms".

“I know it’s a bit different, but having players who are asserting themselves in that room, I think that’s amazing for tennis. Hopefully there are more of those. Because they’re going to keep on improving and make us better. They’re going to hopefully keep producing more and more great players and great levels".

“Those two guys [Alcaraz and Sinner] are really setting the way and I’m looking forward to chasing them down. I don’t know what I’m capable of yet, but I aspire to be at that level. What those guys are doing is setting the way and it’s changing the game. Players like myself are going to be working very hard to get to that point, that’s for sure".

As Wimbledon draws ever closer, British optimism naturally begins to grow—with many hoping Jack Draper can go all the way and win the third Grand Slam of the year at SW19. Before turning his attention to Wimbledon, however, Draper will aim to make a statement at the Queen’s Club Championships, where he enters as the second seed. Should he win the title, he would become the first British player to lift the Queen’s trophy since Andy Murray, marking another significant milestone in what could be shaping up to be a career-defining season.

“I think there’s no secret I’d love to do amazingly well this week (at Queen's) but Wimbledon would be a priority for me." Draper said, "I think it’s always an interesting one, that first match or tournament on the grass, there’s a lot of players who maybe aren’t amazingly prepared".

“We’ve just come from a surface where we’re grinding out points, having to win the point seven times on the trot to get one point. So, coming onto a fast surface, the margins are small but I’m feeling good and I’m ready to compete as hard as possible".

“It’s a home tournament for me as well, so that’s an added motivation for me to do well here as well".

Draper will be optimistic heading into the grass swing as he looks to mount a serious challenge for the crown at Wimbledon. This won’t be easy, however, as the dynamic duo of Sinner and Alcaraz will likely cause more than a couple of problems along the way. Alcaraz looks to go back-to-back with Grand Slam titles, and Sinner looks to avenge his heartbreak during the final at Roland Garros.