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 assert 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.
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 rather more mature when it comes to his recreation, his recreation plan, his recreation fashion. Every part appears rather more mature. And once 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 so much this yr.
“I feel the massive problem for him now could be to remain injury-free as a result of he is been injured so much 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.”
Mouratoglou, who’s nicknamed “The Coach”, says Draper has improved all elements of his recreation, most notably his backhand.
Southpaw slugger Draper has made some huge choices while working alongside James Trotman reminiscent of leaving his telephone switched off in follow and reducing out caffeine with a purpose to help his probabilities of competing with the perfect gamers within the recreation.
“I feel that his backhand is much better,” mentioned 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 damage gamers so much together with his backhand that’s fairly flat. And I really feel he has a transparent recreation 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.”
Consistency can be key for Draper to difficult the likes of world No 1 Jannik Sinner and two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz for main honours transferring ahead.
He’s anticipated to focus on Masters 1000 titles and Grand Slams, along with additional enhancing 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 mentioned. “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 may 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’s actually a giant, huge era when it comes to gamers that may make it to the highest. And once more, Jack is considered one of them, however the competitors is hard.”
What number of hours of stay tennis?
From 4am on October 28 by to 4pm on October 31 you possibly can watch back-to-back LIVE TENNIS totalling 84 hours continuous motion on Sky Sports activities Tennis.
What’s arising on Sky Sports activities Tennis?
- Hong Kong Tennis Open – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
- Jiangxi Open – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
- Merida Open Akron – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
- Rolex Paris Masters – ATP 1000 (October 28 – November 3 – Draper in motion)
- WTA Finals Riyadh – (November 2-9)
- Belgrade Open – ATP 250 (November 3-9)
- Moselle Open, Metz – ATP 250 (November 3-9)
- Nitto ATP Finals, Turin – (November 10-17)
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