Jack Draper has gone from strength to strength recently, picking up his first Masters 1000 title earlier this month.
The 23-year-old British star shocked the world by winning the Indian Wells title, taking down several top stars in California.
Draper beat two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals, having already knocked out home favorites Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton in the previous two rounds.
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In the final, Draper took down Holger Rune, 6-2, 6-2, as he lifted the biggest trophy of his young career.
Ahead of Draper’s return to action at the Miami Open, one ATP Tour legend has shared his thoughts on the world number seven’s recent improvements.
Andy Roddick says Jack Draper’s fitness and backhand have improved as he wins Indian Wells
Speaking on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, former world number one Andy Roddick named the two areas of Draper’s game that were causing him the most problems before this year.
“Two things that, I hate to say criticisms because it’s more just an observation of what people can get better at but his fitness, I think, up until eight months ago was suspect,” he said.
“There were a lot of injuries, there were points in matches even at the US Open where he vomited.
“The backhand was okay, and it was a place where you could get out of jail, and this is coming from someone whose backhand was a place where you could get out of jail on.”
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Roddick then explained how the improvements Draper made led him to a first career Masters 1000 title.
“Now he doesn’t really hit it line but he now takes rips to the biggest part of the court where you at least have to take a step back and if you leave that one hanging, then he is turning it,” he said.
“The RPM’s he is getting on his forehand, you think okay lefty he can come in.
“He stands way back in Rafa [Nadal] territory to return and is creating so much height on his forehand.
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“It’s not this flat thing, he either goes massive toppy magoo or he sends it fully through the court.”
Roddick was particularly impressed with the way Draper dominated Rune, something Kim Clijsters agreed with.
“He was dominant,” said Roddick.
“Winning a Masters 1000 final 6-2, 6-2 against [Holger] Rune, who has played well this week [was impressive].”
“I love watching him play,” added Clijsters.
“I also feel like the surface really suited him, maybe a bit more than Rune.
“But that forehand really popped on the surface.”
Andy Roddick says Jack Draper now has the ability to ‘roll people’ on the ATP Tour
Roddick then described what Draper’s domination of Rune in the Indian Wells final reminded him of.
“Rune looked like when you are in juniors and you are bigger and stronger than someone and you overpower them,” he said.
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“The first three games Rune didn’t do anything really wrong and he just had the racket taken out of his hands.
“I thought it was pretty impressive.”
The American looked back on Draper’s improvements once more as he highlighted what the Brit is now able to do on the ATP Tour.
“The fitness and the backhand were average or maybe below tour average,” said Roddick.
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“Within the last 16 to 18 months the US Open was really good for him, then he had to pay the bill with humidity.
“But he has the ability to roll people now.
“It used to be that he would hold a lot and have a really good serve.”
Draper will look to continue ‘rolling’ when he takes on the winner of Roberto Bautista Agut and Jakub Mensik in the second round of the Miami Open.