Jack Draper is aiming to make his mark on the ATP Tour once again after a year marred by recurring injury setbacks. Now ranked outside the top 100, the former World No. 4 has turned to Andy Murray to help him regain his best form after parting ways with coach Jamie Delgado.
Draper resumes his journey at the 2026 Mubadala DC Open, where he has received a wildcard. The Brit is chasing his fourth career title at the tournament with Murray by his side.
Jack Draper Shares His Thoughts on Andy Murray Partnership
Draper hired Murray as his coach while on the sidelines due to a knee injury before the grass-court swing. The 24-year-old made his first official appearance with the three-time Grand Slam champion at the Eastbourne Open in June, where he reached the semifinals with three impressive straight-set victories.
While fans awaited the pair’s collaboration at Wimbledon, Draper, who was placed against Taylor Fritz, was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to his lingering left arm bone-bruising injury. At the time, he had not confirmed whether Murray would remain part of his team beyond the grass-court swing. However, the Brit delighted tennis fans when he arrived in Washington, D.C., alongside the former player.
During a recent interaction with Sky Sports, Draper discussed the influence Murray has had since joining his team. “Andy has been an incredible part of my team so far. He’s brought a real calmness.”
Andy Murray retired after the 2024 Paris Olympics and, just months later, announced a blockbuster coaching partnership with Novak Djokovic. The Brit joined Djokovic’s player box at the start of the 2025 season, but the partnership proved to be short-lived, with the two legends parting ways in May.
Murray opted not to take on another coaching role, choosing instead to prioritize time with his family after two decades on the Tour. However, he left the door open to a future return to coaching. Ahead of the Mubadala DC Open, Draper reflected on his player-coach relationship with his childhood idol.
“He’s got great energy about him. People are seeing it now more after he’s retired. But he was incredibly playful, so we always have a lot of fun.”
“He’s great because he really believes in me and my tennis, believes that I can go a long, long way in the sport. And to have one of your idols think like that is something to really be proud of. Gives me confidence. We’re on the journey together, and I think there are so many improvements in my game and so much to come,” he added.
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Presently ranked No. 147 in the world, Jack Draper would hope for a deep run in Washington, D.C. He begins his campaign against Alex Michelsen on Tuesday, July 28. It remains to be seen whether he will receive wildcards for the Canadian Open, Cincinnati Open, or US Open as he continues his comeback and looks to return to the top.
