“I’m going to ask him how to play on clay”: Katie Boulter teases compatriot Jack Draper after Madrid Open final

British female No. 1 Katie Boulter praised her compatriot Jack Draper following his great level in recent months, which took him to the final of the Madrid Open last Sunday. The 23-year-old lost to Casper Ruud but still secured his career-high ranking as world No. 5.

Draper is only the 4th British male player to reach the top 5 and achieves this just a few months after Andy Murray's retirement in 2024. The three-time Grand Slam champion had kept the British flag within the top 5 from 2008 to 2017, being the only one to have occupied the top of the ranking so far.

Draper's great form has not gone unnoticed by his colleagues on the women's Tour, after Katie Boulter joked about asking him for advice to improve her clay-court game. “The first thing I do when I see him is I’m going to ask him how to play on clay,” Boulter said with a laugh to Sky Sports.

“Some of the tennis he’s been putting out recently has been so impressive to see. Just seeing him so established -- we’re talking about making finals at two Masters in the space of a month -- that’s already so impressive, let alone to have one title and get your first one.”

The world No. 40 addressed the impact of Draper's rise: “More than anything, I think it helps people believe that it can be them,” Boulter said. “When you see people around you in your environment doing extremely well, then you ask yourself the question why it can’t be you and why it can’t be anyone there. I think that is the biggest thing about it. Obviously super happy for him and for those who are doing well.”

Recently, former US Open champion Emma Raducanu had also praised Draper after reaching his second Masters 1000 final at the Rome Open. “It’s amazing to see what he’s achieved and how much he’s done,” Raducanu said to Sky Sports. “I know he’s a great tennis player and he [has] such a big stature that he can take the game out of anyone’s hands. For him to kind of dominate like he has been is really cool to see.”