HSBC CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 17, 2025

Jack Draper

Queens Club

Press Conference

J. DRAPER/J. Brooksby

6-3, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Jack, it's a very hot day. We saw someone faint in the crowd. But in the past, you have had trouble with the heat. Why is this year different? It's only going to get hotter, isn't it, this week?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I think I have played in much hotter conditions actually out in the States with the humidity. It's not that humid here. Yeah, I think I used to struggle a little bit in the past just because I wasn't used to the level of ATP tennis really.

And also, hadn't had much exposure to it. So I'm able to control myself different. I deal with things very differently in the heat. I feel good. Today, yeah, it was more dry heat, wasn't too humid. I felt okay.

Q. Why don't you talk about playing in front of the British crowd. Also, you mentioned about playing on the Andy Murray Arena after. I wondered if you've spoken to him or Tim being "the guy" at Wimbledon as the British player?

JACK DRAPER: No, I haven't really spoken to Andy at all. Tim, I am in contact with him a little bit more, because obviously seeing him around with the commentary, et cetera. You know, I know I have got both of their supports.

I think that they've obviously done incredible job over the years of sort of being the leading British player. Yeah, like, I think everyone deals with things a bit differently. I know for myself that I have got a great team of people around me.

Also, I know that it's not that they wouldn't want to speak to me. It's just the fact that they're not probably going to get in touch with me and tell me this and that.

I feel good, I feel confident, I feel relaxed. Like I said on court, I'm happy to be home. I'm happy to be playing in front of home crowd.

I feel good. I feel confident. Everything is, you know, everything is good and I'm lucky that I've got those guys to lean on if I need it.

Q. (Off mic.)

JACK DRAPER: It's just a bit of a different feel. I'd say that when I'm away from home, you know, sometimes the crowd are against you and that can be difficult mentally. Even though I do like it when it's a bit louder and stuff, that is a bit different. Obviously in the UK, I think it's generally a bit quieter.

But I do obviously enjoy just being in London, being at home, having my friends and my family watching and stuff. There is no place I'd rather play tennis than here.

Q. You mentioned on your interview on court you had a few niggles. Are you kind of worried about them going forward? How has that impacted your preparation into this event?

JACK DRAPER: No, I feel good. I feel good now. Last week in training I had a little niggle. I had to have a break for a couple of days to see it through. I was training on the courts here and took a really heavy fall. I was limping around for a day or so.

But it wasn't anything that was going to keep me from playing. I got out there today and I felt really good. I'm happy with that. Really happy, because, yeah, you never know how serious something is going to be.

You know, yesterday I trained and I felt good. Then today I was just fine. Happy with that, and that's not any concern to me from now on, yeah.

Q. Katie Boulter spoke to the BBC today about the level of social media abuse she gets, kind of detailed it quite graphically about the level. Wondered if you can talk about the amount of abuse you get? Also, a subject that's been talked about for a long time and nothing seems to be done. How do you think it can be tackled? How do you think it should be tackled by social media companies or tennis authorities or the law?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, it's not good. I think Katie is right. I saw her interview. I think she's correct in what she's saying about future generations. I think we're lucky enough to maybe have grown up into social media, whereas, you know, the generation coming up are growing up with it.

So they know nothing different. I think it's so easy to spread online hate. It's not easy, especially, I think she said, when you're younger and you lose a match or something, and you come into the professional tour and getting all this abuse saying they will come around your house and do this and that. It's not nice.

But at the same time, I take comfort that in knowing whoever's doing that probably sat on their mum's couch, nailing a bag of Quavers with their pants on, whatever. I mean, I'm not that worried about that, to be honest. I just, to be honest, I don't really do social media. I don't really see it too much.

But there does need to be something that gets done about not just in tennis but in professional sport. It's too easy to spread hate. I guess that's Twitter, Instagram, that's the world we live in. I'm not a fan of social media at all.

Q. Just on this notion of playing at home, how big of a difference does it make to you, the fact that you're able to now go home and sleep in your own bed rather than being in hotels and apartments around the world?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I mean, on one hand it's amazing, because when I'm obviously at home, I get to be in my environment. I get all my home comforts. It's very easy where I live to get here, get to Wimbledon.

On the other hand, it's a bit different because I'm so used to staying in hotels and sort of going out for meals with the team and stuff.

On one hand, it's amazing; one hand it's a bit alien. Very fortunate to obviously stay home. All the other players are staying in hotels week in, week out. To have the ability to be in one place for a month is something I don't take for granted. I think I feel more relaxed and more comfortable because of it.

Q. The US Open mixed doubles, it's new this year. You're on the list playing with an Olympic champion, Qinwen Zheng. How did that come about? Did you ask for that? And you're definitely going to play in it?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I'll definite play. I think it's a good format for the players to get prepared for the US Open, having a shot at playing with another top player. Qinwen I know from the tour. I have seen her around. Obviously a great player herself and has a really good game.

I think it will be fun to get out there and play with her and see how we get on. Yeah, I think it was me who messaged through IMG. She's with IMG as well. It was nice to get that sort of together and let's see how we get on.

Q. On the doubles, it would have been nice from the British perspective to have you and Raducanu, both British No. 1s. Was that ever an option? What happened?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I mean, a wise person once told me you should find the best partner, and that's what she did in Alcaraz. I don't blame her at all for that (smiling).

Yeah, I think she will have a lot of fun playing with Carlos. He's obviously the best player in the world probably right now, along with Sinner. Great at doubles, as well. Saw that with Rafa at the Olympics. She's gone about and chose the best partner, for sure. Hopefully they do well.

Q. Just on the thing about being the leading British man here, obviously a bit of clear water now on that front. Is it just something that we kind of bring up? Is it something that will ever come into your head, the figurehead status that you have now?

JACK DRAPER: To be honest, there is enough stresses and enough things going on. I'm focused on my preparation all the time and focused on other things.

Does it enter my mind obviously that I'm highly ranked and that I am probably in that position? Of course. You know, and I obviously, like anyone would do, feel that a little bit, but I also take it in my stride.

I feel like since I was a young guy, I have always wanted to be at the top of the game, and I knew eventually that would come with it. I feel confident, happy, I feel this is exactly where I want to be, regardless of any external noise.

So, yeah, that's where I want to be. I know that comes with certain things, but that's okay, because I've got great people around me, like I have always said.

I'm always improving. And to obviously play at home, as well, that helps. I remember Andy always saying that, to him, it's obviously more pressure playing at home and stuff, but at the same time you've got the crowd with you, you have your people around.

I just don't think about it too much, and I feel happy to be in this position.