Its the left-handed thing.
Its an advantage he makes the most of, crossing his powerful forehand to his opponents backhand.
Im a bit odd, he says.
MADE IN ENGLANDDraper, the UK’s top-ranked men’s tennis player, wears a Turnbull & Asser jacket and shirt. Dunhill scarf. Photographed by Theo Wenner. Fashion Editor: Tom Guinness.Vogue, March 2025.
I throw right-handed, I write right-handed, golf right, everything.
I dont know where that comes from.
He got it when he was 19.
THE FIGHTER“I know myself. I’m hungry, I’m willing to do whatever it takes.” Burberry robe.
Draper is six foot four, with reddish-brown long hair and the face of a young Kennedy.
This bright winter day hes hitting with British player Cameron Norrie, another lefty.
Draper, gangly and all limbs, performs a little hop-skip after each successful stroke.
OPEN BOOKAt 6’4”, Draper is naturally right-handed, but plays lefty. Dunhill shirt.
THE FIGHTERI know myself.
Im hungry, Im willing to do whatever it takes.
OPEN BOOKAt 64, Draper is naturally right-handed, but plays lefty.
GETTING IN SOME REPSBurberry coat and jacket. Thomas Pink shirt. Carlo Manzi trousers.
The eyes on Draper arent surprising.
That was amazing, he says.
You dont have a title or you dont have a good result in a Grand Slam.
THE REST IS HISTORYBurberry robe.
It felt good having something to my name.
Drapers grandmother, great-uncle, mother, dad, and brother all played tennis at serious levels.
Perhaps that legacy accounts for Drapers ease.
You become very lost.
Everyone else is going to university, everyone else is doing their thing.
He didnt expect the scrutiny and emotional pressures.
He questioned if his love for tennis was enough to carry him through.
GETTING IN SOME REPSBurberry coat and jacket.
The next year Draper began his breakthrough, winning four Challenger titles.
That was kind of when he made that jump.
By 2023, Draper had broken into the top 40.
I couldnt live without music, he says.
You are what you listen to.
If you listen to love songs, youre going to be in your feels.
If you listen to country, youre going to be in your feels.
If you listen to 50 Cent or Eminem, youre going to be more hyped up.
And I love that.
Its like a personality switch.
Hes learned to trust himself more.
If I do make an error, I can fix it.
I have the mental tools and the talent and Im more present with what Im doing.
Whereas before, I might make a mistake, get down on myself, and unravel.
He ended the year really well, says Trotman.
Hes very caring, very family-driven.
Focused on his goals and what hes trying to achieve, but also good fun, Trotman says.
THE REST IS HISTORYBurberry robe.
During this brief preseason, the men have spent time shopping.
I wouldnt say its a professional job, Jubb tells me of Drapers decorating.
Nor is his car a status item; Draper still drives a secondhand 2013 Volkswagen Polo.
He wants to learn how to invest his money and do more in fashion.
Hes caught the eye of Burberry, who has made him an ambassador.
Hes also now represented by IMG, but claims hes not a very good model at all.
But he does care about style and has studied how players look and dress.
Nadals penchant for sleeveless shirts impressed him, as did the looks of mullet-and-headband-era Andre Agassi.
Draper swears hes not thinking about it, but somewhere on his horizon may be a Grand Slam win.
Sinner, Alcaraz…theyre leading the way at the moment, he says.
But I know myself.
Im hungry, Im willing to do whatever it takes to really improve and compete with them.
In this story: Grooming, Chi Wong.
Produced by Partner Films.
Set Design: Max Bellhouse.
