Draper: Tennis Tradition in Different Nations Outshines Britain

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Thursday, March 13, 2025
Picture credit score: Tony Chang/Chang Pictures

Southwest London is the middle of the sporting universe for 2 weeks every summer season.

Whereas Wimbledon is probably the most prestigious tennis match on this planet, a number of European nations outshine Nice Britain’s tennis tradition, says British No. 1 Jack Draper.

Chatting with the media in Indian Wells after his 7-5 6-4 win over 2022 BNP Paribas Open champion Taylor Fritz, Draper stated tennis is extra beloved by different European nations.

“I believe England, we clearly have Wimbledon. That is, you recognize, one of many largest sporting occasions on this planet,” Draper stated. “I would say for 3 weeks of the 12 months we’re massively into tennis. I believe we’ve been extraordinarily lucky clearly to have Andy Murray and different gamers who’ve actually, you recognize, proven me the best way and impressed me to be a prime participant in myself.

“I would say our precise tradition for tennis is not enormous within the UK.”

Final September, Draper turned the fourth British man in Open Period historical past to achieve the US Open semifinals.

The 23-year-old Draper stated he hopes his technology of rising British gamers, together with former US Open champion Emma Raducanu, may also help develop the sport at house.

“Clearly different tennis nations, you recognize, I believe have it higher with Italy and Spain and France,” Draper stated. “They love tennis much more than we do as a nation, however I believe, you recognize, hopefully with what’s to come back with the grass and hopefully gamers like myself and Emma and different prime gamers coming by means of that we will actually placed on a very good present and encourage lots of people to play.”