“Big, big aspirations for myself,” 22-year-old British ATP icon makes 2024 plans clear as he aims to be “right there with” the trendsetters

Jack Draper has had a year to learn from in the 2023 season. The 22-year-old became the youngest British player to reach the finals of an ATP Open since Andy Murray in 2009.

The Brit did so by reaching the finals of the Sofia Open in November, where he lost to Adrian Mannarino in the third set. In an interview with Sky Sports, Draper lauded Andy Murray as his inspiration. He further revealed the bright hopes that he has for himself in the next season.

I have big, big aspirations for myself to be up there. I've had long enough now, a year and a bit on tour to sort of find my feet a little. I've had injuries but, at the back end of this year, I have shown myself that I've kept on improving and have stayed injury free. I don't see any reason why, at the end of this time next year, I can't be right there at the top. 

In the interview, Jack Draper said

Apart from the Sofia Open, Draper didn’t have anything as a highlight for the 2023 season. Though he reached his highest career ranking this year, he was eliminated from the first rounds of the Australian Open and the French Open. That’s not all; he was even eliminated in the fourth round of the US Open.

Jack Draper opens about the current men’s tennis circuit scenario

The 22-year-old Brit has shown some promise on the tennis circuit but hasn’t been able to fully capitalize on it. His counterparts, such as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, have been much higher in the ranks compared to him. 

I think tennis is in a really exciting place. There's two or three young players standing out the most at the moment and then it's up to the rest of us to try and compete with them and get up to their level.

In the interview, Draper said

Draper is still very young, and it is sure that he will only get better from here. With the era of the ‘Big Three‘ almost on the verge of ending, it would be a great opportunity for up-and-rising players like Draper to showcase their best tennis and bag a few Grand Slam titles in the future.

Thus, they can capitalize on their full skillset and go big in the coming seasons. Draper will start off his 2024 campaign with the Australian Open.

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