Jack Draper\u2019s coach has stated that the Brit believes that he \u2018belongs\u2019 at the highest level of tennis, competing against the \u2018best players, on the biggest stage.\u2019<\/p>\n
The world No 14 defeated Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-5 in his quarter-final match, continuing his impressive form in 2025 \u2013 just two weeks after making the Doha final.<\/p>\n
Draper<\/a>\u2019s coach James Trotman \u2013 who the player has previously called a \u2018one of a kind\u2019 \u2013 \u00a0has given his insight into the various improvements made to the Brit\u2019s game.<\/p>\n Whilst speaking to Tim Henman for Sky Sports, Trotman stated:<\/p>\n \u201cI think a lot of hard work has gone on in those years [since their partnership started], a lot of game development which we are always focusing on.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he has started to believe a lot more in himself, he feels like he belongs at this level and can perform with the best players, on the biggest stage.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a fantastic start to 2025, but there have been limited tournaments, still. He picked up a little niggle in the off-season and had a great run down in Australia \u2013 considering the lack of tennis he had \u2013 final in Doha, and again in the semis here.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, when he\u2019s performing, he\u2019s been performing well, but it would be nice to get a few more tournaments under the belt and I think the bigger picture stuff, we\u2019re going to keep working on his body, keep making the right decisions around what he needs at the time.<\/p>\n Trotman \u2013 who is a former junior Grand Slam champion \u2013 first started working regularly with Draper in late-2021 when he was the LTA\u2019s men\u2019s National Coach, with the Brit ranked outside of the world\u2019s top 250.<\/p>\n Speaking about his first impressions of the current world No 14, Trotman stated: \u201cI remember watching him on a trip to Spain in those early days. He was unbelievably competitive, but he was up and down emotionally and also on the court. It was like an emotional roller-coaster watching him compete.\u201d<\/p>\n The Indian Wells semi-finalist will compete against world No 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who has lifted the event\u2019s trophy at the last two editions and has won 32 of his last 34 sets at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.<\/p>\n Carlos Alcaraz \u2018excited\u2019 for Jack Draper test as Indian Wells history quest continues<\/a><\/p>\n 2025 Indian Wells semi-final line-up makes history as next-gen lead the way<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cLook, he\u2019s going to have to serve well, there\u2019s no doubt about it,\u201d Trotman stated, about his player\u2019s last four encounter against Alcaraz.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Jack\u2019s serve is firing, it\u2019s a weapon against anybody in the world, and, if he can build pressure through that, it\u2019s going to help his chances and help him relax, let him play a little bit more aggressively.<\/p>\n \u201cCertainly against Carlos [Alcaraz], he\u2019s not the sort of player where you want to drop your ball speed too much and allow him to dictate and get his physicality onto court.\u201d<\/p>\n The two players have met on four occasions, with Alcaraz leading the head-to-head 3-1. Draper did manage to get a 7-6(3), 6-3 victory against the four-time Grand Slam champion at the ATP 500 in London in 2024 \u2013 albeit on grass<\/p>\n Their most recent clash occurred at the 2025 Australian Open<\/a>, with the Brit retiring after going down two-sets-to-love due to hip discomfort.<\/p>\n The post Former Grand Slam champion on Jack Draper: \u2018Feels like he belongs at this level\u2019<\/a> appeared first on Tennis365<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jack Draper\u2019s coach has stated that the Brit believes that he \u2018belongs\u2019 at the highest level of tennis, competing against the \u2018best players, on the biggest stage.\u2019 The world No 14 defeated Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-5 in his quarter-final match, continuing his impressive form in 2025 \u2013 just two weeks after making the Doha final. 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