Wimbledon: Jack Draper hails Andy Murray effect as British players dazzle in first round | Tennis News

The sun shone, the British fly and Jack Draper leads the load in the middle of a sparkling start for Wimbledon for the favorites of the house.

Draper became one of the seven British men and 10 British players in total to reach the second round while he was advancing beyond Argentina Sebastian Baez, who retired from the wounded while dragging 6-2 6-2-1 to the fourth seeded.

He arrived following the most successful day for British players at Wimbledon in the era open on Monday when seven players won in the first round.

Draper praised the last show of force for British tennis after his victory, pointing to the impact of the catalyst of the triple champion of the Grand Chelem Andy Murray.

“I think that, of course, Andy has had a huge effect on a large part of the young generation and looking at his success over the years,” said Draper.

“A major success on the big stage. When we were younger, we looked at this on Sky Sports and we watched him lift these great trophies.

“It is really exciting both men and women.

Elsewhere Tuesday, Dan Evans overthrew his British compatriot Jay Clarke in three sets, while Jack Pinnington Jones amazed Tomas Martin Etcheverry during his main debut to organize a meeting with the 22nd seeded Flavio Cobolli.

The British resume the front of the stage on Wednesday as Emma Raducanu collides with the Wimbledon 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova, while Oliver Tarvet faces the title champion Carlos Alcaraz.

“British tennis, we are in a good place,” added Draper. “Everyone has a very good work ethics.

“I think, once again, Andy showed the way of this and Dan (Evans) and Cam (Norrie).

“Working ethics, the desire to improve as a player. It is really exciting what we are going to have in the next 10 years for me. And it’s cool to be part of it.”

Speaking after his victory in the first round, Draper recalled how he led Pinnington Jones to the tennis formation when the two were younger, like the only two to hold a license at the time.

He joked by saying how he would deliberately arrive 45 minutes earlier to avoid sitting in traffic, to the great annoyance of his friend, who would not be on the ground only a few hours after draper.

Pinnington Jones was doing his singles for men on Tuesday at Club All England after leaving TCU just a month ago after choosing to become a professional before his last year at university.

“Jack is a very good friend to be honest,” Draper said. “We live quite close to each other. I met him in 2019, I spent a lot of time around him at his house to relax. We are really good friends.

“Obviously, he chose to go to university, so I haven’t seen him for a very long time. So it’s good to find him.

“He is someone who is incredibly talented. He is, in my opinion, for sure a player of the Top 100. What we have seen with Jacob (Fearnley), I am sure that Jack is going to be on the way because he is so good, honestly.

“I think it’s really exciting for British tennis because there are many of those players who come out of Uni who have their level and they just need more time. They will come on tour and Jack is the one, I think, to win today in his first five sets match against a very good player. It’s incredible.

“I am really proud of him for sure and I would not be surprised if he has a good race this week or if, in the end, will end the year in a high ranking.”

Draper faces Croatian Marin Cilic in the second round later this week as he offers for the first time to reach the third round of Wimbledon.

Look at ATP and WTA visits, as well as the United States in New York, live on Sky Sports in 2025 or stream with now and the Sky Sports application, giving Sky Sports customers to more than 50% live sport this year without additional costs. Learn more here.