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 successful 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 wonderful season with Sunday’s straight-sets success over Karen Khachanov.
His sport plan, the best way he ought to play, his fashion 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 lately, has been serving to information four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, informed 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 far more mature when it comes to his sport, his sport plan, his sport fashion. The whole lot seems far more mature. And if 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 large problem for him now’s 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.”
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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 points of his sport, most notably his backhand.
Southpaw slugger Draper has made some large selections while working alongside James Trotman resembling leaving his cellphone switched off in observe and chopping out caffeine as a way to help his probabilities 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 so much together 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 stable 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 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 bettering his career-high rating, which is at the moment 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 technology 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, large technology 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.”
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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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