Jack Draper has vowed to embrace being the new leader and figurehead of British tennis as he begins his Wimbledon campaign as a top contender for the championship.<\/p>\n
Draper will face Sebasti\u00e1n B\u00e1ez of Argentina in his first-round match on Tuesday, a long-awaited homecoming for the 23-year-old after enjoying a remarkable rise during the past year. Only a few years ago he sought out advice from Andy Murray and other top British players as he tried to understand how he could fulfil his enormous potential. The fourth seed is now the point of reference for all other British players and many have already asked him for his thoughts on their own journeys.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very nice when people reach out,\u201d Draper said. \u201cI think within British tennis, especially, people know the work I\u2019ve been through, the adversity I\u2019ve gone through with injuries, the type of person I am where I\u2019m always wanting to progress. I\u2019m always wanting to understand how I can be better as a player.\u201d<\/p>\n
An example of Draper\u2019s newfound authority came last year when Hannah Klugman, one of Britain\u2019s most talented youngsters, arranged a lunch meeting with him through her coach, Ben Haran. She views Draper\u2019s advice as instrumental in helping her to find her way again. Klugman, who reached the French Open girls\u2019 final this month, will make her grand slam debut on Monday against the 29th seed Leylah Fernandez after receiving a wildcard.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy message to her was that everyone\u2019s on their own journeys,\u201d Draper said. \u201cBut regardless, if you look at a top player, or if you look at someone who\u2019s doing incredibly well, it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean they\u2019ve got it all figured out and they\u2019re not in the state of struggle themselves. They just know how to deal with it better.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a sport like tennis or in any sport, people think it\u2019s easy. You go out there, win, you feel great, but the challenge is there every day to perform and to be better. So my message to her was that everyone\u2019s the same. It\u2019s just how you deal with it. So don\u2019t be afraid of the doubts and the fear and the anxiety and the struggles that come with the tennis world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Quick GuideWimbledon 2025: day one order of playShow<\/p>\n
Centre Court<\/b> (1.30pm BST start)<\/p>\n
F Fognini (It) v C Alcaraz (Sp, 2)<\/p>\n
P Badosa (Sp, 9) v K Boulter (GB)<\/p>\n
A Rinderknech (Fr) v A Zverev (Ger, 3)<\/p>\n
No.1 Court<\/b> (1pm BST start)<\/p>\n
A Sabalenka (Blr, 1) v C Branstine (Can)<\/p>\n
J Fearnley (GB) v J Fonseca (Bra)<\/p>\n
E Raducanu (GB) v M Xu (GB)<\/p>\n
No.2 Court<\/b> (11am BST start)<\/p>\n
B Bonzi (Fr) v D Medvedev (Rus, 9)<\/p>\n
E Ruse (Rom) v M Keys (US, 6)<\/p>\n
J Paolini (It, 4) v A Sevastova (Lat)<\/p>\n
T Fritz (US, 5) v G Mpetshi-Perricard (Fr)<\/p>\n
No.3 Court<\/b> (11am BST start)<\/p>\n
S Kartal (GB) v J Ostapenko (Lat, 20)<\/p>\n
H Rune (Den, 8) v N Jarry (Chi)<\/p>\n
M Berrettini (It, 32) v K Majchrzak (Pol)<\/p>\n
K Siniakova (Cz) v Q Zheng (Chn, 5)<\/p>\n
Court 12<\/b> (11am BST start)<\/p>\n
E Moller (Den) v F Tiafoe (US, 12)<\/p>\n
V Royer (Fr) v S Tsitsipas (Gr, 24)<\/p>\n
L Fernandez (Can, 29) v H Klugman (GB)<\/p>\n
M Vondrousova (Cz) v M Kessler (US, 32)<\/p>\n
Court 18<\/b><\/p>\n
A Bondar (Hun) v E Svitolina (Ukr, 14)<\/p>\n
C Norrie (GB) v R Bautista Agut (Sp)<\/p>\n
M McDonald (US) v K Khachanov (Rus, 17)<\/p>\n
N Osaka (Jpn) v T Gibson (Aus)<\/p>\n
Thank you for your feedback.<\/p>\n
Carlos Alcaraz, the defending men\u2019s champion, opens play on Centre Court on Monday against the veteran Italian Fabio Fognini. Other headliners on the opening day include Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 1, who begins against Carson Branstine, a Canadian qualifier, and Emma Raducanu, who faces the 17-year-old British wildcard Mimi Xu<\/a>.<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend\u2019s action<\/p>\n Privacy Notice: <\/strong>Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/a>. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy<\/a> and Terms of Service<\/a> apply.<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n Draper has been handed a difficult draw as he tries to manage the elevated pressure and expectations that come with his new status but is determined to show the country his potential. \u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity here at Wimbledon<\/a> and a great chance to hopefully show the British public what I\u2019m able to do on a tennis court, and the type of personality I am,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n