Jack Draper, Britain’s brightest tennis star, has soared into the world’s top five at just 23, a milestone cemented by his remarkable run to the Madrid Open final. As he prepares for the 2025 Italian Open in Rome, the British No. 1 has revealed the surprising forces behind his meteoric rise: fear and doubt. Far from weaknesses, these emotions are the fire driving Draper to compete with the sport’s elite. “I know I can win any match and lose any match. I am fearful I could lose but that helps me compete the way I do,” Draper admitted, offering a raw glimpse into the mindset that has propelled him past legends like Novak Djokovic in the ATP rankings.
Draper’s 2025 season has been a breakout. His triumph at Indian Wells in March, where he defeated Holger Rune and stunned Carlos Alcaraz, marked his first Masters 1000 title. He followed with a final in Qatar, falling to Andrey Rublev, and a semifinal at the US Open in 2024, losing to eventual champion Jannik Sinner. His clay-court evolution, once his weakest surface, culminated in Madrid, where he reached his first ATP clay final, only to be edged out by Casper Ruud 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. “I’ve used that fear and doubt to motivate me to want to do the best I can for every match,” Draper said, emphasizing how these emotions sharpen his focus. His Madrid run, where he didn’t drop a set until the final, included a thrilling semifinal win over Lorenzo Musetti, showcasing his lethal forehand and improved clay movement.
The Madrid loss, though “brutal,” has only fueled Draper’s hunger. “Maybe this loss and being in the final but not quite getting over the line, just helps me to fuel my fire a bit more,” he reflected. “I need to keep on pushing, keep on improving.” Ruud, a two-time French Open finalist, paid tribute to Draper’s growing aura, admitting, “I knew if I don’t bring my A-plus game, I’d be whooped around the court.” Such praise underscores Draper’s transformation from a promising talent to a feared contender, a shift evident in his physicality and mental resilience. “I feel stronger every time I play,” Draper told reporters. “You see guys like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have no fear and so I just want to go after it.”
Draper’s clay-court progress is remarkable given his limited experience—fewer than 30 career matches on the surface before Madrid. Previously, his best clay results were quarterfinals at ATP 250 events, but his Madrid campaign saw him overpower top players like Matteo Arnaldi (6-0, 6-4) and Tommy Paul (6-2, 6-2). “I had a couple of really tight losses last year, and I just needed to get my foot in the door somewhere to show that I’m able to compete to a really high level on this surface,” he said. His forehand, honed with coach James Trotman, has become a “fear factor” for opponents, as noted by analyst Annabel Croft, while his enhanced movement allows him to “bully” rivals, a far cry from his defensive days.
Rome offers Draper a chance to build on this momentum. His top-five ranking, secured after Madrid, places him among the ATP’s elite, trailing only Sinner, Zverev, Alcaraz, and Taylor Fritz. With the French Open weeks away, his confidence is buoyed by past successes. “The rankings are important but at the same time winning a Masters 1000, a 500, a 250, and making the semis of a Grand Slam all in the last year is something that I can always draw back on when I’m feeling low on confidence,” he said. As he faces increased scrutiny, Draper’s fear-driven mindset—coupled with affirmations like “I have the power to achieve anything I put my mind to”—positions him as a serious threat in Rome and beyond.
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