Jack Draper plays Novak Djokovic on Wimbledon centre court

Here is everything you need to know about Draper - and his links to Warrington.

THE MATCH OF HIS LIFE:

Novak Djokovic v Jack Draper:

All pictures courtesy of PA unless stated

As Wimbledon’s two-year hiatus ends, Draper, above, faces top seed Djokovic in the opening match on Centre Court on Monday at 1.30pm.

WHO IS JACK DRAPER:

Long been marked out as Britain’s brightest young male hope, Jack is the son of Roger Draper, who was chief executive of rugby league club Warrington Wolves between 2015 and 2017, Sport England from 2003 to 2006 and the Lawn Tennis Association from 2006 to 2013 and left The Halliwell Jones Stadium to become executive director of Super League.

Roger Draper, former Warrington Wolves chief executive. Picture: Mike Boden

Left-hander Jack is 19 years old and currently has a career-high ATP tour ranking of 250. Only four teenagers are currently placed higher.

He made his ATP Tour main draw debut in singles as a wildcard at the 2021 Miami Open in March but had to retire after he collapsed on the court due to heat-related illness.

Draper, below, aged 16, finished runner-up in the 2018 Wimbledon junior boys’ championship

THE CHALLENGE:

Serbian tennis hero Djokovic is the number one seed, the defending champion, a five-times winner, the world No1 who is seeking his third consecutive Grand Slam title on the back of most recently winning the French Open at Roland Garros a little over two weeks ago. Djokovic hasn’t played a singles match on grass though for two years.

WHAT DRAPER SAYS ABOUT PLAYING DJOKOVIC:

“What an opportunity for me to play against the best player in the world. I’m definitely going to relish the opportunity and I’m really looking forward to it. To be on Wimbledon Centre Court opening the Championships with him is something that’s amazing.”

HOW DRAPER FOUND OUT HE WAS PLAYING DJOKOVIC:

“I was about to practise. I was on the phone and I sort of looked round and I didn’t realise they were doing the draw. And I saw Djokovic’s name next to mine, and I turned to my coach and said, ‘I think I’m playing Djokovic here’.”

DRAPER’S FORM:

At the 2021 Queen's Club Championships in London last week, Draper achieved the greatest win of his career so far against world No23 Jannik Sinner as a wildcard.

He then beat world No39 Alexander Bublik to reach the quarter-finals of an ATP tournament for the first time, making him the youngest British ATP quarter-finalist since Andy Murray in 2006 and climb 59 places to 250th in the world rankings.

WHAT DRAPER SAYS ABOUT HOW HE’S BEEN PERFORMING AND PREPARING:

He has sought advice from Andy Murray and Dan Evans, who defeated Djokovic on clay in Monte-Carlo in April, but will take a lot of confidence from his first two ATP Tour victories at Queen’s Club last week.

“I’ve done a lot of training because of Covid and I’ve hit with Dan Evans and Andy Murray a lot so I know where I’m at in terms of my level.

“But there’s one thing knowing about it and there’s another thing going and winning the matches. It was something I needed to show to myself that I could go and win those type of matches against the world’s best.”

A GREAT MEMORY FOR DRAPER:

The Londoner was lucky enough to be among the crowd as an 11-year-old in 2013 when Andy Murray ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s singles champion at the All England Club by defeating Novak Djokovic “That moment I saw him and I was really inspired by all that he’d achieved and it gave me the confidence that potentially I could do this one day.”

WHAT MURRAY SAYS ABOUT DRAPER:

Andy Murray has stood in Draper’s shoes, having made his Wimbledon debut aged 18.

“It’s fantastic for him. It will be a great learning experience, as well, to see where his game is at and everything. I hope he does well.”

WHAT DJOKOVIC SAYS ABOUT DRAPER:

“I honestly do not know too much about Draper.

“I’ve seen him play a little bit in Queen’s where he beat Sinner. I actually practised with Sinner yesterday so I asked him a couple of questions about Draper’s game.

“He’s a home player. I’m sure there’s going to be lot of support, a lot of people behind him. It’s the first match on the Centre Court, new virgin grass. Obviously coming in as defending champion, it’s always a very special feeling for me.

“But it can be very dangerous, very tricky playing against a home favourite, someone that doesn’t have much to lose, a guy who has beaten some really good players last week in Queen’s. I’m taking him very seriously.”

WHAT DJOKOVIC SAYS ABOUT HIS CURRENT STANDING, MINDSET AND FORM:

Djokovic is very much the player to beat and a third consecutive slam title would see him equal Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s record of 20 trophies while keeping him on track for a calendar Grand Slam.

He recovered from two sets down to defeat Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of the French Open two weeks ago.

“The level of confidence is pretty high. Obviously winning the two majors this year, playing very well in Roland Garros. That tournament took a lot out of me I think mentally and physically and emotionally. It also granted me with an incredible amount of positive energy and confidence that created a wave that I’m trying to ride.

“I did not allow myself to enjoy that victory too much because four days later I was on the grass courts training. I didn’t have too much time really to reflect on what has happened in Paris. That’s how it is. That’s the tennis season and tennis schedule. I turn the next page.”