"I can't get rid of this guy" - Jack Draper delves into his relationship with Andy Murray after Queen's Club victory
ATP
Despite retiring at the 2024 Summer Olympics, British tennis star Andy Murray has remained in the public spotlight. Compatriot Jack Draper, currently competing at the Queen's Club Championships, shares a more personal relationship with Murray and spoke on how often he interacts with the former World No.1.
Draper defeated American Jenson Brooksby in their opening round clash on Andy Murray Arena at the ATP 500 event on Tuesday, scoring an impressive 6-3 6-1 win. The top-ranked British star has slowly crept up the ATP rankings, reaching a career-high of World No.4 as he attempts to carry the British flag after Murray hung up his racket.
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Murray's journey was inspirational, says Draper
Following his win over Brooksby, Draper was asked to give his thoughts on playing on a court named after Murray. The second seed revealed they still kept in touch, and admitted he missed having the three-time Grand Slam champion on tour.
“Can’t get rid of this guy,” replied Draper with a smile. “Andy [Murray] is an unbelievable guy, somebody I’ve been incredibly inspired by, I wouldn’t be where I am without him, I remember coming here when I was younger watching him win these tournaments, an incredible person to get to know.
“I definitely miss him on the tour, but at the same time, hopefully I get to see him around, and who knows, maybe I’ll see him soon. Thank you, Andy, this court deserves to be named after you for sure."
“I definitely miss him on the tour, but at the same time, hopefully I get to see him around, and who knows, maybe I’ll see him soon. Thank you, Andy, this court deserves to be named after you for sure."
Furthermore, the 23-year old spoke on making the transition from clay to grass courts expressing his optimism at improving as the season progressed.
"It feels amazing, there’s no place I’d rather be," added Draper. "We obviously travel the world playing tennis, never get to come home, spend much time with my family, but to be here, to be on this court in front of you guys, my people, my family, thank you.
“It’s always tricky coming onto grass after the clay, to adapt, sometimes I hit the ball a bit late, not quite on time but the more matches, the more practice time I’m going to get on the courts, I’m going to get better and better, more confident with my tennis, and it’s definitely a surface I really enjoy playing on."
“It’s always tricky coming onto grass after the clay, to adapt, sometimes I hit the ball a bit late, not quite on time but the more matches, the more practice time I’m going to get on the courts, I’m going to get better and better, more confident with my tennis, and it’s definitely a surface I really enjoy playing on."
Awaiting Draper in the round of 16 is big-hitting Australian Alexei Popyrin, who defeated compatriot and good friend Aleksandar Vukic in a tight three-set encounter earlier in the day.
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
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