'Inspiring' Jack Draper has 'stepped up' post-Andy Murray amid US Open run, says fellow Brit Jodie Burrage

Jack Draper is enjoying the best Grand Slam run of his career at the US Open. Fellow Brit Jodie Burrage has been watching on as she prepares to return from injury and says seeing Draper's success has been "inspiring". Burrage has also spoken, in an exclusive interview to Eurosport, about whether Draper can step into Andy Murray's shoes and how she is looking forward to her comeback.

‘Feel a lot different to last year’ – Draper now has ‘so much more confidence in mind and body’

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Jodie Burrage says it has been “inspiring” to watch Jack Draper’s US Open quarter-final run as he has “stepped up” following Andy Murray’s retirement.

Britain’s Draper, 22, has reached the last eight of a major for the first time in his career – and has done so without dropping a set.

He faces 10th seed Alex de Minaur on Wednesday with the chance to reach the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows.

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Draper appears on top of his game and says "confidence is growing" after seeing his progress over the last couple of years blighted by injury issues.

His sparkling displays in New York have spurred on fellow Brit Burrage, who is set to return to court this week after a six-month injury absence during which she started working with Draper’s fitness coach Steve ‘Speedo’ Kotze.

“He's done amazingly well,” Burrage told Eurosport about Draper.

“Obviously with Andy retiring, he's kind of stepped up and taken control there, which has been really nice to see, but also there must be a lot of pressure on his shoulders, so it's nice to see him handle that pressure well.

“I've known Jack for a long, long time, and I know the work that he's put in for a long time, so I'm glad it's coming off for him.

“I've started using his fitness trainer as well and I've been through the sessions that he's been doing, and they're not pretty, so I can appreciate the work that he's put in, and that's exactly what I want for myself.

"And I look at where Jack is now with his body in such good shape, he's moving great on court, and it's made a world of difference to his game, and that's kind of what I want for myself as well…he's been inspiring to watch actually.”

Draper is the first British man to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open since Murray in 2016.

Earlier this year he also became the youngest British men's No. 1 since Murray in 2009.

Asked whether Draper can fill Murray’s shoes following his retirement earlier this summer, Burrage added: “I mean, he's doing a pretty good job at it. Quarter-finals of a slam is pretty good.

“Andy's shoes are very big to fill, and I'm not sure anyone will probably fill Andy's shoes, but I feel like Jack could be up there. I feel like Jack can win slams.

“I feel like he has got the potential to be doing that and to be knocking on those doors, so it will be very interesting to see what happens in the next few years. And even this week, I mean, he's playing great tennis this week, so who knows what he can go and do.”

Burrage ‘motivated’ ahead of return

As Draper goes for glory in New York, Burrage will be back on court in Monastir, Tunisia later this week.

The 25-year-old looked to be building momentum earlier this year as she reached her first WTA 500 quarter-final in Linz and climbed to No. 86 in the world rankings, one below her career high.

But she played just one more match before suffering a wrist injury in San Diego that led to her undergoing surgery and missing the spring and summer.

“It's been a long road, but I'm feeling good now,” said Burrage, who is an Original Penguin ambassador.

“I've been out with injuries before for three months at a time but six months is a whole different animal. So yeah, it's been very frustrating and not been easy at times, but it's just something that I had to go through and just happy to be on the other side.”

Jodie Burrage

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During her time away from the tour with injury, Burrage has not switched off from tennis.

She admits watching the sport has brought its challenges – “as much as I love supporting everyone and it was nice to see everyone doing well, it was not easy to watch it, but it also gave me some motivation to keep working, to keep training, especially in those tough days, you need that motivation to get you through” – but says the way she watches has changed over the last few years.

“I used to be terrible at watching tennis, but now I always have it on because I feel like I just want to learn.

“So when I watch tennis, I look at what works, what doesn't work, how people play. I feel like I've got a lot better with that over the last few years.”

Are there any players in particular Burrage has watched at the US Open that have stood out?

“I've watched [Emma] Navarro a fair bit and enjoy watching her. She just doesn't give you anything at all.

Emma Navarro

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“I normally like watching [Aryna] Sabalenka play, but I haven't managed to see any of her matches. It's nice seeing [Karolina] Muchova back and doing well as well, so yeah, there's been a few, but mainly just trying to watch the Brits as well and just supporting people.”

'I want to play as much as possible'

Burrage was the British No. 2 earlier this year before injury forced her off tour.

She has fallen down the rankings due to her injury absence and says the main aim for the rest of the season is getting “a load of matches” under her belt.

“I just want to play tennis. I want to play matches. I want to play as much as possible. I'm not going to use my protected [ranking] the rest of this year. I'm going to play wherever my ranking is and try to play myself into a good spot to use my protected ranking next year.

Sinner & Swiatek outlast their rivals to reach quarters at US

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“I've been through some lengthy injuries, not this long, and it was hard enough coming back from three months out and it always took me a while to get back to where I wanted my level to be. So yeah, I just want to play matches, get back to a good level, because I'm expecting it not to be my best when I come back.

“But see what happens, see what I can do and just take it week by week and not put a load of pressure on myself. And just be very happy to be back out there because I've been wanting this for a long time now. It's nice that it's finally here.”

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