Former Grand Slam champion Juan Martin del Potro has publicly voiced his belief that Britain’s rising star Jack Draper possesses the talent to challenge the likes of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, but he cautioned that the young left‑hander must first secure "confidence in his body" before he can consistently compete at that elite level. Del Potro, who captured the US Open title in 2009 and spent time as world No. 3, knows all too well how injuries can derail a promising career. Throughout his own tenure on the tour he was beset by recurring wrist and knee problems, ultimately forcing him to retire in 2022.
His personal experience gives him a unique perspective on the physical hurdles that Draper now faces. The British player, currently ranked No. 28, has already shown flashes of brilliance. After a six‑month lay‑off caused by a bone‑stress injury in his left arm, he returned to competition in February and quickly reminded everyone of his potential.
He stunned Novak Djokovic during his title defence at Indian Wells, propelling himself into the quarter‑finals with a performance that many pundits described as "the breakthrough of the season." However, his momentum was halted at the Miami Open where he fell in straight sets to Reilly Opelka. Draper’s recent schedule has been a roller‑coaster of highs and lows. He missed the Monte‑Carlo Masters due to lingering fitness concerns, then retired in the deciding set of his Barcelona Open match against Tomas Martin Etcheverry after a grueling battle.
The following week he withdrew from the Mutua Madrid Open, citing a knee injury that forced him to abandon his campaign at La Caja Mágica. In a candid post on social media after the Barcelona retirement, Draper wrote, "I will work my way out of this," underscoring his determination to overcome the setbacks. Del Potro highlighted an often‑overlooked advantage for Draper: his left‑handedness. "As a lefty, he naturally creates angles and patterns that many opponents find uncomfortable," the Argentine explained, recalling his own Olympic final loss to Andy Murray in 2016.
He added, "Draper has the skill set to play at the highest level, but sometimes the body becomes the biggest obstacle, as it did for me. He needs to rebuild trust in his physical capabilities." The mental side of the game has also been a challenge for Draper. He has spoken openly about bouts of anxiety on court, occasional nausea, and the psychological toll of repeated injuries to his hip, knee and arm.
These factors, Del Potro noted, can be just as debilitating as any physical ailment. "Injuries are part of the sport, but you also need a complete support team – a coach, a physio, a strength trainer and a mental coach – to navigate the tough moments quickly and effectively," he said, drawing on his own experience of battling injuries for many years while still relishing the chance to play against the 'Big Three' – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Looking ahead, Draper hopes to return to Madrid this year, a tournament that holds special significance for him.
One year ago he reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final on clay, falling to Casper Ruud in three tightly contested sets. That run demonstrated his ability to adapt to the slower red‑dirt surface and suggested that, with a fully fit body, he could become a regular contender at the highest tier. Del Potro, who now works with the Roland‑Garros Junior Series in Brazil, summed up his outlook: "British tennis is in good hands. Jack has the tennis to succeed; he just needs his body to respond to the intensity of week‑in‑week‑out competition.
When that happens, the sky’s the limit for him." Beyond Draper, British tennis is enjoying a period of depth. Number one Cameron Norrie has posted solid results, including a quarter‑final appearance at Indian Wells and a third‑round showing at the Australian Open. Meanwhile, Katie Boulter entered the main draw of a recent event after withdrawals from Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal due to illness and injury, respectively. The upcoming Madrid Open will run for two weeks, with the main draw kicking off on Tuesday, April 21, and broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis.
The women's singles final is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, followed by the men's final on Sunday, May 3. Day sessions begin at 9 a.m., while night sessions start at 5:30 p.m. An additional highlight this year is the temporary clay court installed at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium – home of Real Madrid – from April 23‑30, offering players a chance to practise on a surface that mimics the conditions at La Caja Mágica. For fans, the tournament will be widely accessible: matches can be streamed via NOW, the Sky Sports app, or watched on traditional Sky Sports channels, providing subscribers with over 50 percent more live sport at no extra charge.
As the season progresses, all eyes will remain on Draper, whose journey illustrates the delicate balance between raw talent and the physical resilience required to thrive on the world stage. If he can secure the confidence Del Potro believes he deserves, the British left‑hander could soon find himself standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the sport’s newest elite.