Draper confident of challenging Sinner and Alcaraz in 2025

Jack Draper is confident he can challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in 2025, believing he has all the right tools to be at the top of the sport.

Draper took big strides in the game this year, climbing from outside the top 60 to a career high of 15 in the rankings, while also winning two ATP Tour titles.

He also reached the semi-finals of the US Open, where he lost to Sinner, who shared the grand slam titles with Alcaraz, as the Italian sealed the year-end number one ranking.

Draper finished the season with a record of 39-22, but recently withdrew from the United Cup through injury, but is expected to recover in time for the Australian Open.

A gulf remains between the pair and Draper despite a first win over Alcaraz at Queen’s Club, but the British number one feels he is gaining the experience to take the next steps.

"I think I do belong at the top of the game with all the weapons I have at my disposal, and mentality and all these things," he said.

"Obviously, there’s so much to improve, but I think just the main thing is experience of playing these matches week in, week out."

At times the Brit has also struggled to deal with the stress of big occasions, vomiting during the Australian Open last January and in his attritional semi-final loss to Sinner.

But he has coped with setbacks, including finding an ability to close out difficult matches after suffering multiple tight losses in final-set tie-breaks.

"I love competing, I love the battle, I love playing in front of big crowds," Draper added. "There’s nowhere I’d rather be in the world than on that court then."

Seizing the initiative in matches is something Draper sees as key to the strength of Sinner, Alcaraz and the other leading players.

Sinner lost just six matches in 2024 and Alcaraz 13, and the Briton has been studying their game closely to try and implement it into his own.

"I think everyone’s different, but one thing they would have in common is that, especially those two, they’re not afraid to go after the ball when it matters, and they’re not afraid to put their tennis on the line and really show their character," Draper concluded.

"And not afraid to miss, not afraid to make a mistake if it’s a good error. I remember when I played Alcaraz in Indian Wells a couple of years ago, in maybe the second game, he hit a forehand off a decent backhand of mine, and he hit it about 100 and something miles an hour, and he missed.