Jack Draper is the best hope of a British winner at Wimbledon and he’ll begin his tournament at SW19 late on Tuesday having been scheduled for the final game on Court One
Jack Draper will begins his bid for Wimbledon glory on Court One with the highest ranked Brit last up on Tuesday. The fourth seed arrives having made the last four at Queen’s and will take on Argentine Sebastian Baez.
It is one of the harder draws Draper, who made the last four at the US Open last year, could’ve been handed given Baez is ran ked 38th in the world. The 23-year-old will have to spend the day waiting with two matches before him on Court One on Day Two.
Italy’s World No 1 Jannik Sinner is first up before previous champion Petro Kvitova takes on 10th seed Emma Navarro from America. Centre Court, which many would’ve expected to see Draper playing on, is occupied by a host of champions.
Women’s singles winner from 12 months ago, Barbora Krejcikova, is first up before Novak Djokovic begins his bid for another title at SW19. Coco Gauff, fresh from winning the French Open, is also on Centre.
Draper leads the British charge at the All England Club but he has plenty of his compatriots also in action. On Court 3 Johannus Monday will face American Tommy Paul, who is ranked 13th.
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Heather Watson starts proceedings on Court 12 before an all-British affair featuring Dan Evans and Jay Clarke. Jodie Burrage is third up on Court 18 whilst Jack Pinnington Jones, the 22-year-old from Kingston, is also in action on the outside courts.
Draper meanwhile has welcomed his rise to be British tennis’ headline attraction as he looks to make an impact on home soil for the first time. For so many years Andy Murray was the man who captured the nation’s attention with Draper more than happy to fill the void.
“It’s very nice when people reach out,” he said. “I think within British tennis, especially, people know the work I’ve been through, the adversity I’ve gone through with injuries, the type of person I am where I’m always wanting to progress. I’m always wanting to understand how I can be better as a player.”
Draper has only made it past the fourth round of a Grand Slam once and that came last year in New York, before his journey was ended by eventual champion Sinner. He will have been disappointed by his premature exit recently at the French Open.
The Brits best effort on home soil so far is the second round – which he reached last year and in 2022. He arrived as the 28th seed 12 months ago but Draper was beaten by compatriot Cam Norrie, who ousted him in straight sets.