Jack Draper, 23, heads into Wimbledon as the fourth favourite to lift the trophy – here his former coach and teacher reveal all about their prodigy’s incredible rise
When Jack Draper steps on court at Wimbledon next week as the great British hope at SW19 – it won’t just be the Centre Court crowd screaming his name.
Draper, 23, is a “hero” at his former primary school, where mum Nicky still coaches tennis, and is regularly spoken of by teachers to inspire the next generation. And if any of his matches fall during school time during the first week of The Championships – the final week of the school’s term – then all the kids and staff will drop what they’re doing and get in front of a TV together.
Draper is now number four in the world and is our best chance of Wimbledon glory since two-time champion Andy Murray – who retired last year – was at his best. Off the court, branding expert Marcel Knobil believes Draper is such a sponsor’s dream that he will go on to earn more money than Murray, who was this year valued at £110million in The Sunday Times Rich List.
Dishy Draper has already had modelling gigs with publications such as Vogue and Tatler, and is sponsored by Nike, Dunlop, Vodafone and Burberry. But it is those who know Draper, or “Drapes” best, who saw his potential from a very young age.
Justin Sherring coached him for 10 years from the age of six to 16, and keeps in regular contact with his prodigy who has become a pal. “I haven’t come across many five and six-year-olds like Jack. He started competing from an early age and really identified as a tennis player,” said Justin, 54, who has coached tennis for 30 years.
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They still spend time together and are regularly in contact as Justin coaches fellow Brit and doubles star Joe Salisbury, and so is often at the same events as his former pupil. He was even in Draper’s box when he won the Masters 1,000 tournament at Indian Wells, California, in March – his biggest title to date.
That followed a run to the US Open semi-final in September. “Professionally it’s just really cool to see the end product,” Justin, the tennis director at Weybridge Tennis Academy, Surrey, told the Mirror.
“If you’re a school teacher and a pupil is incredible at maths you don’t necessarily witness them go on to become a top economist but for me, I get to see him play and think ‘wow, that backhand is as good as we thought it would be, that serve is as good as we thought it would be’. His tennis has developed as we designed it over so many years, and it’s a wonderful feeling to see.
“The focus and passion he had as a boy, and still has, and the sheer joy he got from playing. It was something else. Jack was always really, really funny, very outgoing, competitive and confident. He’s a Manchester Unite fan and I support Liverpool, so we always had a laugh.
“He really used to make me giggle. He was one of those kids that turn up and you find yourself having an adult conversation with him.”
Asked if they are still regularly in touch, he said: “He just texted me a minute ago. I asked how he was feeling after his tonsillitis that affected him at Queen’s and he just responded a minute ago saying he’s ok, and asking how I am.
“He’s always been a very polite boy. But I still see him quite a lot. I just give him a big hug and I tell him how proud I am of him, and I really am. It’s great we’ve got that relationship still, I’ve seen him grow from a boy into a man – who is doing incredibly well.”
Pupils and teachers at Parkside private preparatory school in Cobham, Surrey, where Draper attended until the age of 11, also brim with pride over their famous alumni. Assistant head Alex Gainer, who taught him PE and IT for four years, said down to earth Jack still has the same group of friends he made at the school as a youngster.
Even at age seven Draper had to miss some schooling as he was competing all over the world, said Alex. “He was charming and determined in everything that he did,” he said.
“He was also brilliant at football and cricket, and got on really well with his year group. Jack always comes home, back to Cobham, and is still very close with his friends from here. We knew at the time he was special but nobody could have predicted he’d be entering Wimbledon as the fourth best player in the world
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“He’s a huge hero for the kids and they all know about him. They had banners made for him for the US Open semi-final when the media came down. I always keep them informed in assembly about how he’s getting on. Ben, his brother and agent, was also at Parkside. They’re a lovely family.”
Asked if the school will be watching should a match fall during the day, he said without hesitation: “The head teacher is a massive fan and we’ll be putting it on, no doubt, so we can all support him, and we’ll drop everything to do that.”
He added: “He was a joy to have in the classroom and we’re so lucky to have had someone like him who’s gone on to be such a role model for the children here.”
After Parkside, Draper attended Reed’s School, an independent secondary day and boarding school, which Tim Henman also attended, for around two years. Draper continued his studying through tutoring from the age of 14 as his future tennis career was mapped out.
Branding guru Mr Knobil believes Draper’s future earnings – taking into account sponsorship deals – could easily hit more than $150 million dollars – around £110 million. Draper’s career prize money from tennis alone currently sits at around £6 million, according to the ATP Tour website.
“His earning potential is through the roof,” said Mr Knobil. Jack is a fantastic player and he really has it all off the court too. He’s affable, good looking, fiery and very likeable.”
Draper is understood to be single and has previously spoken about the ‘lonely’ nature of life on the gruelling ATP tour, although he is good pals with fellow Brit star Emma Raducanu. “When Murray was at the same age – in terms of what he offered to potential brands – he didn’t have what Jack has. It took Andy many years to let his personality shine,” added Mr Knobil, the founder of Superbrands.
“But with Andy now retired, we have seen one hero step aside and have been joyously greeted by a new potential hero.”
Mr Knobil used to judge the Sports Industry Awards alongside Draper’s dad Roger, who was the Lawn Tennis Association’s chief executive from 2006 to 2013. Roger also served as chief executive of Sport England from 2003 to 2006, and has been hugely influential in UK sport.
During his time at Sport England, he had the responsibility of reporting to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. He also led a major review and reorganisation of the £450m spent on sport in the UK at the time. This included helping to oversee completion of sporting institutes and facilities.
He also carried out a review of how a number of sports were governed from athletics, hockey, rugby league, golf, cricket and boxing. And he was famously involved in London’s successful 2012 Olympic bid, and the building of the new Wembley Stadium. Roger and Jack’s mum Nicky Entract, a former junior British tennis champ, are divorced.
Mum Nicky credits her own mum – Jack’s grandma Brenda – with being the person who inspired her boy to get into tennis, adding that Draper first held a racket aged just one.
Brenda, herself a former tennis coach, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 10 years ago aged 70 and Draper has spoken publicly about the condition and how his beloved gran can no longer recognise him. Draper is now an active supporter of the Alzheimer’s Society.
He said in 2023 regarding his nan: “This is probably the saddest part for me and my family, that she no longer recognises or is able to communicate with us. Nana was a huge supporter of my tennis, and I wish she could see and appreciate all the things I’ve achieved so far as I know she would be very proud of me.”
Mr Knobil added: “Young Jack has the benefit of tennis seeping through his veins. And also the wise and prudent council of his father who really understands the game, from a sporting and managerial perspective.
“In terms of future earnings, I think Jack will have a lot of beans to count, his beanstalk will be of a very significant nature. The Federer, Nadal, Djokovic generation is bowing out and stepping aside for the next generation – of which Jack is definitely a member.”
Roger Federer is worth around £400 million and no player has yet come close to the one billion pounds mark. But with Netflix producing a number of tennis documentaries – including one on Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz recently – players’ exposure is greater than ever.
“Without wanting to embellish or be over-dramatic, I believe that even if he doesn’t quite reach the success levels of some of these others, I’m confident his career earnings will be over $150million (£110million).
“If all goes perfectly then one of them – Alcaraz, Sinner or Draper – because they’re still so young – could potentially reach that magical billion mark. Jack has it all. And playing-wise, the catapult has been pulled, it’s taught, and he’s ready to be unleashed.”
Away from the court Draper, a Manchester United fan, enjoys spending time with his dog, an Australian miniature labradoodle, while his favourite music to listen to includes Oasis and Stone Roses, the ATP Tour website says.
En route to glory at Indian Wells in March, Draper beat Spanish superstar and reigning two-time Wimbledon champion Alcaraz in the semi finals. His number four seeding at Wimbledon means he would not meat Alcaraz or Italian world number one Jannik Sinner until the last four of SW19.
Justin added: “This last year has been incredibly special, he’s come on leaps and bounds and doesn’t seem to be climbing the ladder one rung at a time. There are three or four guys around where I think he’s got to go up another level, and get into that top three, but I firmly believe he can do it.
“The Big Three era of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal is over, it would be great now to see a top three of Alcaraz, Sinner and Jack. It’s something I’d dream about.”
Draper fell in the semi final of Queen’s in three gruelling sets to talented Czech Jiri Lehecka, but it later emerged Jack was suffering tonsillitis. “Jack’s a great guy and he’s very calm and confident in front of the cameras. I think he had visions of this since he was six-years-old,” said Justin.
“But make no mistake about it – he is an animal on court. An absolute monster. What he gives out there, he reminds me of Rafa (Nadal).”
Justin is not getting ahead of himself as Wimbledon draws near but cannot help but feel excited by what his former student might achieve. “I think it would be remiss of me to think it’s going to be easy,” he said. “But you do not get that ranking without being at an incredibly high level.
“If he settles in well and gets through week one, and finds his groove, then everyone knows he’s capable of playing tennis as well as anybody out there – including Alcaraz and Sinner. With the British crowd behind him and if he’s feeling it, who knows what might happen.”