Tim Henman, who is currently at the Miami Open, has shared his thoughts on the recent strides made by both Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu in consecutive significant tournaments this month. Draper, just over a week ago, made history by winning his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells.
Henman expressed his excitement for Draper’s potential, particularly in regard to the possibility of the 23-year-old making his Laver Cup debut this year. Henman revealed that he has been in talks with Draper’s agent, who is also his brother Ben, about the player’s participation in the upcoming Laver Cup in San Francisco. Henman added that Draper’s recent success is not unexpected.
“I’m not really all that surprised,” Henman said. “What we’re witnessing is the puzzle pieces finally falling into place, and those pieces have always been there. The only thing that has held him back previously has been the injuries that prevented him from maintaining consistent momentum.
That’s what’s exciting about his current form. He’s ranked No. 7 in the world and has just secured his first Masters 1000 title. To me, he still hasn’t had a full 12-18 months of consistent play on tour, which is remarkable considering the interruptions he’s faced. That’s why he doesn’t have many points to defend until Stuttgart, which is another promising sign. If you analyze his game more closely, you’ll see very few weaknesses, and he still has plenty of room to improve.”
Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu is also achieving some of her best results outside of her remarkable 2021 US Open victory. This week, she reached the quarter-finals of the Miami Open, where she will face fourth seed Jessica Pegula. Henman believes Raducanu’s improved form this year is due to her increased consistency, even though she faced challenges last month. Competing regularly has allowed her to unlock her potential and regain her top-level form.
Henman’s comments highlight the exciting progress of two young British talents, who are showing great promise as they continue to rise in the tennis world.
