With less than a week to go until Wimbledon, one of Great Britain's biggest hopes of taking a title there at some point has been explaining a change to his team. Jack Draper, who is seen as a leading home contender at the All England Club, has decided to bring in extra support as he prepares for the grass court Grand Slam. The move comes at a moment when British attention is turning firmly towards the tournament.
The headline of the announcement is the identity of his new addition. Draper has teamed up with the country's last big winner at the All England Club, adding Sir Andy Murray to his coaching staff. Murray, who lifted the Wimbledon trophy and became one of the most successful British players of his generation, will now work alongside Draper as he looks to make progress in the sport.
The decision is tied to Draper's effort to rebuild after a difficult spell. He is fit again after suffering arm and knee injuries in recent months, and he is now looking to move back up the rankings. According to the report, he is currently ranked 160th in the world, despite having previously been as high as fourth, a drop that underlines how much the injuries have cost him.
Draper framed the partnership as the natural extension of a long relationship with Murray. He said Murray has always supported him and that the two have always had a great relationship, recalling that they spent some time together towards the back end of Murray's career. He added that Murray has been a great support for him ever since he stopped playing, describing his new coach as a former Davis Cup teammate.
The British number one explained why he felt this was the right point to formalise the arrangement. He said it felt like a really good time to get Murray in his team and that it was something he had always wanted, calling Murray one of his biggest inspirations. He stressed that having him there as not only a coach but also a mentor, as someone who has been through it all, is a special thing.
Draper also pointed to the confidence the move gives him at a testing moment in his career. He said that the fact Murray believes in him and believes in his tennis, especially now when he needs to come back and build himself up again, gives him a big boost. With Wimbledon only days away, Draper will hope that the added experience helps him take inspiration from one of the country's most celebrated players.