'Jack Draper is built like a brick': Fans in awe as British star returns to grass at Queen's Club

London Queens Club

'He's built like a brick': Fans in awe as Draper returns to grass at Queen's Club

Briton practises on Saturday; Harris offers insight to ATPTour.com

Kate McShane/Getty Images for LTA Jack Draper practises with Billy Harris on Saturday in London. By Jerome Coombe

Jack Draper is back on the grass at the HSBC Championships and back doing what he does best: hitting big.

The British lefty returns to the iconic ATP 500 event at Queen’s Club at career-high No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings and seemingly on the cusp of his prime. Draper, who trained with countryman Billy Harris on Saturday lunchtime, offered fans in west London a glimpse of what they can expect throughout the week.

“He’s always intense in his practice, ripping big forehands,” Harris told ATPTour.com after their session. “It makes you a bit sharper: You have to be ready for the ball coming through very quick. It’s always good to sharpen yourself up against someone who’s nailing the ball at you.”

Jack Draper trains at Queen's Club. Photo: Dan Istitene/Getty Images

A key aspect to Draper’s ascent on the ATP Tour has been his adaptability and proven potential across all surfaces. The Londoner recorded his first wins over Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on the grass at Queen’s Club in 2021 and 2024, respectively, and won his first tour-level title on the same surface in Stuttgart 12 months ago.

This year, Draper triumphed at the hard-court ATP Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and backed it up with a run to the final on the Madrid clay. Yet while his ability to achieve success across all surfaces has been pivotal, Draper has also placed renewed emphasis on his strength and conditioning.

“He’s built like a brick,” one astonished fan remarked after seeing Draper up close on Saturday.

With a booming lefty forehand, a devastatingly flat backhand and pinpoint accuracy on serve, Draper is able to do damage from anywhere on the court. But the 23-year-old is particularly potent on grass, where the power behind his shots are amplified by the speed of the surface.

“He’s obviously shot up the rankings and is leading the way for British tennis, so it’s always good to practise with him,” Harris added of Draper. “His serve on the grass is very, very dangerous, he’s a perfect guy to train with to prepare with.”

The second-seeded Draper opens his campaign against Jenson Brooksby, whom he leads 3-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, having recently defeated the American en route to the Indian Wells title.

Draper will hope to reignite fond memories from his time at Queen’s Club, where he owns a 5-3 record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Competing as a 19-year-old wild card, Draper stunned third-seeded Sinner for his maiden tour-level match win in 2021 and returned to sink then-defending champion Alcaraz last year before falling to eventual winner Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals.

Click here to read article