Meet Jack Draper’s Parents: The High-Profile Dad and Champion Mum Behind the US Open Star – You Won’t Believe Their Story!

British tennis star Jack Draper has secured a spot in the US Open semi-finals after an impressive victory against Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals. The 22-year-old, who had never advanced past the fourth round of a Grand Slam before, triumphed with a commanding 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 win. Draper is now the first British man to reach the US Open semi-finals since Andy Murray, who claimed the title in 2012.

 

Reflecting on his performance, Jack expressed his long-standing belief in his abilities: “This isn’t something that just happened overnight. I’ve been working hard for a long time and knew my time would come. I didn’t know exactly when, but I hope to achieve many great things from here. I’m very proud of myself.”

 

As Draper continues his US Open journey, HELLO! takes a closer look at his family background, starting with his parents, Roger and Nicky.

 

Jack’s father, Roger Draper, is a former chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association, a role he held from 2006 to 2013. Before that, he was the chief executive of Sport England from 2003 to 2006. Since 2018, Roger has been working as a global business advisor for Boston Consulting Group. His passion for sports began during his time at Loughborough University, where he studied Sports Science and Recreation Management.

 

Growing up, Jack faced challenges, including jealousy from peers due to his parents’ high-profile roles in sports. He recalled to Telegraph Sport how, during junior tournaments, some of his competitors hoped to see him fail. “There was quite a lot of jealousy when I was younger,” he explained. “I’d often have a group of boys I’d never met before rooting against me. But as I got older, I realized that’s just how things are. People might think I’ve had special treatment, but I’ve put in all the hard work and sacrifices to become a good tennis player.”

 

Jack’s mother, Nicky, a former junior British tennis champion, was instrumental in his early tennis training. She took him to his first practice at Sutton Tennis and Squash Club and was his first coach. The two remain close, with Jack still calling her after his victories. Nicky told the LTA that Jack’s talent was evident from an early age, recalling how he picked up a racket at just one year old and displayed impressive hand-eye coordination.

 

Tennis runs in the Draper family. Jack’s brother, Ben, was also a skilled player and earned a tennis scholarship to Berkeley University in California.