Sometimes, it’s the little things that make a big difference—especially in elite sport.
For British tennis star Jack Draper, that means borrowing a habit from cyclists and ditching the razor for a smoother game, quite literally.
Borrowing Tricks from the Tour de France
After cruising into the second round at Wimbledon with a confident win over Argentina’s Sebastian Baez, Draper shared a somewhat unexpected detail about his off-court prep.
He’s been shaving his legs—not for speed like Tour de France riders, but for comfort.
“You get these awful ingrown hairs from the resistance bands we use,” Draper explained.
“When you’ve got hair on your legs and you’re using those bands, it just yanks them out. It hurts.”
He also mentioned the constant friction from massages doesn’t help either.
“I figured if shaving helps me avoid that pain, then why not? It’s worth it.”
The Spotlight Is Real, Even on His Legs
This isn’t something Draper expected to be asked about during Wimbledon, but it’s a reminder that, during these two high-profile weeks, everything about him—right down to his calves—is fair game.
It’s a strange adjustment for any player on the rise: going from relative anonymity to having your every choice questioned, including your grooming habits.
But Draper seems to be taking it all in stride.
Yes, He’s Changing His Hair on Purpose
If fans were curious about his recent hairstyle—yes, that buzzed cut with shades of Peaky Blinders—Draper has heard it all.
But for him, hair is one of the few areas where he lets himself experiment.
“I’m not planning to cut it anytime soon,” he said.
“The highlights might go eventually, though.
But yeah, get used to seeing all kinds of looks from me. I like to change it up, I get bored.”
Even if his brother isn’t a fan of the rotating hairstyles, Draper says it’s one of the few fun outlets he allows himself amid all the routines and consistency of life on tour.
Why He’s Stepping Back from Social Media
With his profile rising, Draper has made a conscious choice to distance himself from the noise online.
Although he still pops up on Instagram now and then, he mostly keeps his social media presence to a minimum.
“I just don’t do it anymore,” he admitted. “As a pro athlete, I found it exhausting.
A few months ago, I decided to step back and just focus on the things that really matter—my tennis, my relationships, the stuff that keeps me grounded.”
It’s a rare and refreshing mindset in an era where athletes are often expected to share every detail of their lives.
For Draper, the focus is clear: play hard, ignore the distractions, and don’t let a band snap your leg hairs.