Jack Draper has planned a training block with Carlos Alcaraz after being told to leave the UK for his pre-season training.
The Brit has enjoyed a breakthrough season, winning two titles, cracking the top 15 and reaching a Grand Slam semi-final.
But several tennis insiders have urged Draper to train outside of his home country if he wants to reach the top of the game. And the 22-year-old has listened.
Draper often stays in London to complete his training block during the off-season. Last year, he was more than happy to stick with the LTA’s National Tennis Centre and raved about how much freedom he had to do what he wanted with their facilities.
However, some want to see the world No. 15 leave his home comforts to practice abroad. Andy Roddick said Draper needed to find “another base” in the heat while Mark Petchey went a step further, suggesting the Brit should move abroad to a “hot, humid place.”
The British No. 1 has now met them halfway. According to Mail Sport, he will spend four weeks training in the UK before heading to Alicante for a practice block with world No. 3 Alcaraz.
Draper’s coach James Trotman said: “It’s incredibly important to spend time with the best players, experience that on a daily basis. We’re looking forward to it.”
Training in a warmer climate will be important for Draper, who has often struggled with hotter conditions. He threw up after his five-set win at the Australian Open back in January.
The world No. 15 also struggled with the hot days during the Paris Olympics and blasted organisers for not giving them good enough access to cold water. “I mean it was tough conditions, there’s no doubt about it, I need to play more in this sort of heat,” he added.
It will also be a chance to see how four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz works, as their training block will be at his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero’s academy.
Draper stunned Alcaraz when they faced off at Queen’s this summer. The Spaniard was the defending champion and came to the tournament fresh off the back of lifting his third Major trophy at the French Open.
But the Brit sent him packing immediately, winning 7-6(3) 6-3. Alcaraz bounced straight back and retained his Wimbledon crown a few weeks later.
Draper and Alcaraz already had a good relationship. After the top-ranked Brit retired injured during their 2023 Indian Wells clash, the world No. 3 reached out to him.
While commentating on one of the Spaniard’s matches last year, Laura Robson said: “I was actually speaking to Jack Draper back in Miami after he’d had to pull out of the tournament there having injured himself in Indian Wells.
“He was getting texts from Carlos saying, ‘Let me know if you need anything. Reach out if you want to have a chat about how you’re feeling, about having so many injuries on and off.’
“And just got the situation. And Jack’s got nothing but good things to say about him. But I can’t think of anyone who has got a bad thing to say about him.”
Draper has made it no secret that he wants to get to the top of the game and match players like Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. And his off-season plans will play a big role in helping him fulfil his potential.
