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On Wednesday night, he managed to defeat Novak Djokovic, his idol, in an absolute thriller. Is the third member finally joining the already shining young duo of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner?
The match was a real spectacle. Two and a half hours of intense tennis, with the young Englishman trying to wear down the ageing Djokovic.
With all sorts of drop shots and a varied game, he forced the veteran around the court with his intent and aggression. As a result. Draper recorded 39 winners, despite Djokovic's counterpunching.
In the end, it was said that a single rally decided the match. Ironically, Djokovic won it after 26 lung-busting shots.
"It all came down to one ball. That’s tennis. We played an incredible rally, which ultimately cost me the break. I won the point, but it completely exhausted me," admitted 38-year-old Djokovic.
Draper eventually came out on top, no doubt thanks to his youth and energy.
He arrived at Indian Wells to defend last year’s title, which is a big motivation. Two weeks ago in Dubai, he tested himself to see if he was ready, and now in California, he’s once again playing the kind of tennis that propelled him to fourth place in the ATP rankings last year.
Djokovic wishes him luck
"I don’t think there’s any significant difference in the level of his tennis compared to before his injury. He showed that today," Djokovic said after the game about Draper.
"We know he likes the conditions here, they suit his game. He’s simply playing very well, he’s confident. And when he finds his rhythm, he becomes very dangerous.
"He’s a great player, a great guy, and I wish him all the best for the rest of the tournament."
For the 24-year-old Brit, it was a real boost. After all, the 24-time Grand Slam winner is his role model.
"I’ve watched, admired, and adored Novak since I was a kid. Even now, whenever he plays, I always watch him. And normally, I don’t watch tennis," Draper admitted.
"His game at 38 is incredible. I’m grateful he’s still here."
Currently, the London native is in the quarter-finals of the California Masters, where Daniil Medvedev will test him. But it’s not just about defending points from Indian Wells.
Draper can make a statement for the future. It’s clear that he’s one of the few who could challenge the current leading duo of Sinner and Alcaraz.
Don’t believe it? Draper is a bit older than the two, and he’s coming off an unpleasant break. But before that, he was able to play close matches with everyone, and even beat his star rivals.
He’s 1-1 against Sinner, with four out of five sets decided in tiebreaks. Against Alcaraz, he’s won two out of four completed matches.
And yes, twice he had to retire against the Spaniard with an injury.
Health is what has limited Draper so far. Previously, it was the abdominal muscles. Recently, a bruised left humerus.
He struggled for months with pain caused by an unusual injury that no surgery could fix. The remedy was slow and patient rehabilitation. His break lasted 164 days before he played his first match since last year’s US Open. But apparently, he suffered throughout last season.
The problems were likely caused by rapid growth. Jack Draper now stands 193 centimetres tall and is among the most robust players on the tour. And while his arms are truly dominant, he insists he doesn’t train them excessively.
"I don’t do bench press. I don’t train to look like Mr Olympia, a bodybuilder. But of course, from time to time, I do some specific tennis exercises for my arms," he told the Guardian about his off-court training.
He entrusted his body to fitness coach Matt Little and physiotherapist Shane Annun, the two men who managed to keep Andy Murray on the tour until age 36, despite his severe health issues.
Draper certainly has a different physique than the resilient Murray. "I have a build that lets me gain muscle quickly. But right now, I’m working on my legs and movement. Anyway, I keep getting stronger," he added about his preparation.
He’s the prototype of the modern player. Tall, strong, agile. And a lefty, which is often a bonus.