Naomi Osaka’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou has praised a mature Jack Draper for being extra “disciplined” and feels the British No 1 has “no limits” heading into 2025 following his Vienna waltz on the weekend.
Draper continued his upward trajectory by profitable the Erste Financial institution Open to say his maiden ATP 500 title – the largest title of his profession.
The 22-year-old, who reached the US Open semi-finals in September, capped a superb season with Sunday’s straight-sets success over Karen Khachanov.
His sport plan, the best way he ought to play, his model could be very, very clear now, which was not that apparent earlier than.
Legendary coach Mouratoglou, who labored with tennis nice Serena Williams for a decade and, extra just lately, has been serving to information four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, instructed Sky Sports activities: “I think he’s a great player. Last year when he won Ultimate Tennis Showdown [UTS], I think he played incredible tennis the whole three days.
“I really feel that now he is way more mature when it comes to his sport, his sport plan, his sport model. Every part seems way more mature. And whenever you see him win in Vienna, you do not really feel he performs out of his thoughts. It is his degree. So I feel he improved quite a bit this yr.
“I feel the massive problem for him now could be to remain injury-free as a result of he is been injured quite a bit for somebody so younger.
“If he manages to stay injury-free then I think he’s definitely a top-10 player and a player that has huge weapons and potentially has no limits.”
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Tennis icon Martina Navratilova believes Draper can proceed to go far within the Grand Slam occasions subsequent yr
Mouratoglou, who’s nicknamed “The Coach”, says Draper has improved all facets of his sport, most notably his backhand.
Southpaw slugger Draper has made some huge selections while working alongside James Trotman resembling leaving his telephone switched off in observe and reducing out caffeine so as to help his possibilities of competing with the perfect gamers within the sport.
“I feel that his backhand is much better,” stated Mouratoglou. “Before, his backhand was not hurting the opponent much. I saw him play in Vienna, and I thought he’s taking the ball much earlier with the backhand, and he can hit the ball full, taking the ball early.
“So he can harm gamers quite a bit along with his backhand that’s fairly flat. And I really feel he has a transparent sport plan.
“His game plan, the way he should play, his style is very, very clear now, which was not that obvious before.
“He is very strong and he is very disciplined in what he is doing. However I feel that is a significant enchancment he is made this yr.”
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Draper confirmed his optimism in conquering a Grand Slam following his US Open exit by the hands of Jannik Sinner
Consistency will likely be key for Draper to difficult the likes of world No 1 Jannik Sinner and two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz for main honours shifting ahead.
He’s anticipated to focus on Masters 1000 titles and Grand Slams, along with additional bettering his career-high rating, which is presently at No 15.
“I think there is a lot of competition at the moment. You have two guys who are way above the others, Sinner and Alcaraz. But I think there is also a new generation coming up with a lot of guys that have big potential. Jack is one of them,” Mouratoglou stated. “He really believes in himself, which I think is great.
“We have been used to this era of Rafa [Nadal], Roger [Federer], Novak [Djokovic]. The younger generations that got here up by no means thought they might make it as a result of these three guys, of their thoughts, had been unbeatable.
“But I feel that Alcaraz and Sinner are young like them, so they think, ‘why not us?’
“There may be actually an enormous, huge era when it comes to gamers that may make it to the highest. And once more, Jack is one in every of them, however the competitors is hard.”
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Drama, illness, harm scare in thriller | Highlights of a dramatic semi-final between Draper and Sinner on the US Open
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