Jack Draper’s journey to becoming the world No. 5 hasn’t been smooth or glamorous. It’s been a grind.
One filled with pain, doubt, setbacks—and, more importantly, moments of breakthrough that have made him one of the most exciting names in tennis today.
As he steps into the Italian Open in Rome as a top-five player for the first time, let’s take a closer look at the seven pivotal matches that helped shape his career, both mentally and physically.
That Heartbreaking Day at Roland Garros
2023 French Open, First Round – Etcheverry def. Draper 6-4, 1-0 (retired)
This match was a low point. Draper, visibly struggling with a shoulder injury, didn’t want to quit.
He tried everything—even serving underarm—but the pain eventually got the better of him.
It marked his 12th career retirement, a statistic that haunted him.
He later admitted the emotional toll: “I feel mentally destroyed.
I hate being the guy who’s always injured.”
But that moment became a turning point. Draper realized he had to go all-in on tennis—no excuses, no shortcuts.
Learning the Hard Way Against the Giants
2024 Miami Masters, Second Round – Jarry def. Draper 7-6, 4-6, 7-6
This wasn’t just one loss—it was part of a painful trend.
Draper lost three big matches in a row, all in third-set tiebreaks, against tall, heavy-hitting opponents like Hubert Hurkacz and Taylor Fritz.
His coach, James Trotman, saw a silver lining: “Those matches were the best thing that happened to him.
It made Jack realize he needed to take control and play his game.”
From that point on, Draper flipped the script. Instead of feeling like the underdog, he decided to play like the 6’4” powerhouse he really is.
Lifting His First ATP Trophy in Stuttgart
2024 Stuttgart Final – Draper def. Berrettini 3-6, 7-6, 6-4
This was Draper’s breakthrough moment. After years of near-misses and injuries, he finally claimed his first ATP title. And it wasn’t easy—he had to come from a set down to beat Berrettini, a grass-court expert.
Winning wasn’t just about the trophy. It freed him from the mental weight he’d been carrying: “I had this obsession with winning an ATP title.
Doing it released so many of the negative emotions I had.”
More importantly, he proved he could survive long, grueling matches, something his body previously struggled with.
Stunning the World No. 2 at Queen’s Club
2024 Queen’s Club, Last 16 – Draper def. Alcaraz 7-6, 6-3
This was the match where Draper truly announced himself.
Facing Carlos Alcaraz on home turf, in front of his grandfather, Draper dominated the defending champ.
This wasn’t just a feel-good moment. It was proof that he could beat the very best, not just compete with them. His aggressive playing style, influenced by new mentor Wayne Ferreira, was clearly paying off.
Battling Through Pain in Melbourne
2025 Australian Open, Third Round – Draper def. Vukic 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6, 7-6
Jack’s Australian campaign started rough. A hip injury ruined his pre-season, and he came into the tournament in bad shape. But somehow, he kept pushing through.
He wasn’t playing his best—he even called it “bang average”—but he still clawed back from behind in three consecutive five-set matches. This one, against a fired-up Aussie crowd, stood out.
It shattered one of the last doubts: Could Draper survive a marathon match? Absolutely.
Taking Down Alcaraz Again on the Big Stage
2025 Indian Wells Semi-final – Draper def. Alcaraz 6-1, 0-6, 6-4
This win was different. Alcaraz was at his best, chasing a third straight Indian Wells title.
Draper, despite a second-set collapse, found his composure and pulled off a stunning win in the third.
Even Alcaraz admitted he was thrown off: “I was too focused on his game instead of mine.”
That’s when you know Draper’s reputation is growing—top players are feeling the pressure before they even step on court.
He backed it up by crushing Holger Rune in the final for his first Masters 1000 title.
Conquering the Clay in Madrid
2025 Madrid Open Semi-final – Draper def. Musetti 6-3, 7-6
Clay used to be Draper’s weak spot. He looked lost on it in 2024.
But that narrative is long gone after this performance.
He dismantled Lorenzo Musetti—a skilled clay specialist—with a forehand that would’ve made Nadal proud.
He may have lost the final to Casper Ruud, but he walked away as world No. 5, with his reputation solidified as an all-surface threat.
The Spirit of Rome: Tradition Meets Modern Tennis
This week, Draper makes his debut as a top-five player at one of tennis’s most beautiful venues—Rome’s Foro Italico.
But something about the iconic Nicola Pietrangeli Court has changed.
The tournament added six new grandstands, towering over the historic statues that surround the sunken court.
While it’s great that more fans can watch matches, it’s hard not to feel like Rome’s sense of tradition has taken a hit.
For a city that embodies history, this modern upgrade feels just a little off.
A Well-Deserved Win for Casper Ruud
Even British fans cheering for Draper couldn’t help but feel happy for Casper Ruud, who finally broke his Masters final curse in Madrid.
After six straight final losses, he finally got one. And it meant even more because of how he’s handled recent mental health struggles.
Just days before, he’d shared an emotional message of support for Iga Swiatek on social media.
His kindness and resilience paid off. Sometimes, good things really do come back around.
A Rising Star to Keep an Eye On
Victoria Mboko, the 18-year-old from Canada, is making waves again.
After a red-hot start to 2025—winning 44 straight sets at ITF level—she’s already broken through to the WTA Tour, winning her first match in Miami.
She also made a strong Billie Jean King Cup debut and just qualified for the main draw in Rome. She’s climbing fast, and if she keeps this pace, Mboko might be the next big thing in women’s tennis.