In a thrilling development for British tennis, two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray is set to join rising star Jack Draper's coaching team for the upcoming grass-court season, including the iconic Wimbledon Championships. This partnership brings together one of the sport's greatest competitors with a young talent eager to reclaim his spot among the elite.
Draper, who burst onto the scene as a U.S. Open semifinalist in 2024 and soared to a career-high world No. 4 ranking, has faced a challenging period marked by injuries. Currently sitting at No. 50 in the rankings, the 23-year-old is looking to rediscover his form on the grass, a surface where Murray himself dominated for years.
The coaching change comes after Draper recently parted ways with coach Jamie Delgado, who had been guiding him for the past six months. "I am very grateful for everything Jamie Delgado has done for me over these past six months," Draper said in a statement released by the Lawn Tennis Association. "He is a world-class coach and a great man."
Enter Andy Murray, who retired from professional tennis in 2024 after a storied career that included Wimbledon titles in 2013 and 2016, as well as an Olympic gold medal at the All England Club during the 2012 London Games. This marks Murray's second coaching role since hanging up his racket, following a stint supporting Novak Djokovic last year—a move that showcased his deep tactical understanding of the game.
The connection between Murray and Draper runs deeper than just coaching. Murray was a childhood idol for Draper, and the two have shared the court before, notably at the 2023 Davis Cup Finals in Manchester and during a head-to-head match at Indian Wells, California, that same year. Now, they'll team up with a common goal: to make a strong run at Wimbledon.
"In the interim, I will continue to be supported by the excellent team at the LTA, with the addition of Andy Murray, who will be supporting me throughout the grass-court season," Draper added. For fans of British tennis, this collaboration is a dream pairing—a legend mentoring the next generation on the sport's most prestigious stage.