Jack Draper: British star will need to have ‘large ego’ to compete with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, says prime coach Patrick Mouratoglou

Jack Draper wants a “big ego” with a view to compete with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, says Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

Draper initially known as time on his season as he nurses an arm damage, however the British No 1 is now set to make a comeback earlier than the 12 months’s finish after agreeing to take part within the UTS Grand Closing in December.

The distinctive occasion, which ditches conventional tennis guidelines, is the brainchild of legendary Frenchman Mouratoglou, who has coached the likes of Laura Robson, Grigor Dimitrov and extra just lately Naomi Osaka.

Chatting with Sky Sports activities, Mouratoglou admits world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz and No 2 Jannik Sinner are means forward of the chasing pack, however he thinks Draper has the power and expertise to compete with them sooner or later.

“It’s difficult to see someone compete with Alcaraz and Sinner today because there is too much of a margin, but can I see Jack in the future potentially competing with them? Yes!” Mouratoglou mentioned.

“There are a few issues which can be vital. Firstly, the margin of progress between his stage and the extent of the highest 10 and the extent of Alcaraz and Sinner. There’s a large hole and so they have to shut that hole, so the margin of development is essential to have if you would like to have the ability to compete with them sooner or later. He has that!

“Secondly, you want to have a balanced recreation. You probably have a weak point, they’ll use it as a result of they’re too full, so it’s important to be full as properly. You’ll be able to’t afford to have a weak point in your recreation in any other case they are going to make the most of it and I believe the truth that he is progressed loads on his backhand is a key component.

“And thirdly, I think you need a big ego and I say that in a positive way because to see yourself beating Alcaraz and Sinner you really have to have a big ego and 99 per cent of the players in the top 100 don’t believe it at all.”

Mouratoglou recalled the period of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal when the Swiss famous person gained 11 Grand Slam titles out of 16 potential from 2004 to 2007.

The Spaniard gained three out of the 4 Slams in 2010 and he ended his profession with an unbelievable report on the French Open, 112 wins, 4 losses, and 14 titles. He additionally gained a serious yearly since 2005 to 2014.

“It was the same situation when Roger and Rafa were dominating before Novak [Djokovic] came in,” mentioned the 55-year-old founding father of the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy. “They were dominating the same way and at that time a young Novak said, ‘I’m going to beat them’. He has this ego, he has this belief and he ended up doing it and becoming the greatest of all time.

“I want this for Jack, however you want to have the idea and I believe he does, so I can see him doing it. Not right now, however I can think about him competing with Alcaraz and Sinner.”

‘A win-win scenario’

The British star had his breakout 12 months in 2025, reaching a career-high rating of world No 4, in addition to successful his first ATP 1000 occasion at Indian Wells.

He was identified with bone bruising after his defeat to Marin Cilic within the second spherical of Wimbledon and though the 23-year-old returned to motion on the US Open with a first-round win over Federico Agustin Gomez, damage finally compelled him to drag out previous to a second-round assembly with Zizou Bergs earlier than calling time on his season.

“I think Jack was trying to have the best possible schedule and not play too much,” Mouratoglou mentioned. “He’s been injured in the past quite a lot and it’s a key for his future to stay injury free. He probably didn’t want to play too much and add some extra events so it’s sad that he didn’t play but the UTS event being in London is a great motivation for him to play in front of his home crowd.

“The truth that he acquired injured and will nonetheless compete this 12 months can also be a key for him as a result of whenever you’re injured so many months, to go to follow on a regular basis realizing you are going to play so distant, it is all the time troublesome to maintain the motivation. When you’ve a event not so distant, it helps loads, and it’ll take a look at his tennis when he is been out of competitors. It is a win-win scenario.”

Two key areas Draper has improved

Mouratoglou has been impressed with Draper’s development, outlining the enhancements he has made to his backhand beneath the tutelage of coach James Trotman.

“Draper has progressed immensely,” he mentioned. “Just looking at the ranking it’s quite evident but I think he’s progressed in two areas mainly.

“Consistency in his recreation. He is nonetheless very highly effective and aggressive however with consistency, which makes an enormous distinction and I believe he is additionally improved his backhand. It was a mean shot prior to now however I believe he can do loads together with his backhand now in comparison with earlier than. He is stepping contained in the courtroom loads and when he does, he is very aggressive on the backhand and that makes his recreation way more balanced.

“Everything used to be turning around his backhand so he could play forehands but now he can hurt players on both sides – that’s the biggest improvement he’s made.”

Draper, who was the junior boys’ runner-up at Wimbledon in 2018, has been unable to progress past the second spherical and has acknowledged the necessity to develop his grass-court recreation for the long run.

However Mouratoglou feels Draper “can play well on grass in the future” if he works on just a few parts to fine-tune his recreation on the floor.

He mentioned: “To say someone doesn’t have the game for grass, it meant a lot before because the surface was way faster, but in today’s game, yes, there are games that fit grass probably better if you’re a great returner, if you hit flatter, and if you know how to move on grass – those are key elements.

“I do not see any issues together with his recreation to carry out on grass.”

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