Jack Draper, the British No 1, has appointed Jamie Delgado as his new coach, with the aim of winning a Grand Slam. Delgado, who previously worked with Andy Murray and Grigor Dimitrov, believes Draper has the power and potential to challenge top players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. The 24-year-old has already achieved significant milestones, including a Masters 1000 title and a US Open semi-final.
Jamie Delgado expressed enthusiasm about partnering with Jack Draper, the 24-year-old British No 1, to elevate his career to the highest level. In an interview with Sky Sports Tennis on March 12, 2026, Delgado highlighted Draper's ability to compete against the sport's elite. "He's one of the up and coming players in world tennis and one of the few guys that can challenge Jannik [Sinner] and Carlos [Alcaraz] at the top," Delgado said. He noted the special aspect of coaching a British player, describing Draper as a "great boy" who is honest and humble.
Draper parted ways with his previous coach, James Trotman, under whom he secured three ATP Tour titles. These included the Masters 1000 event at Indian Wells in March 2025, where he defended his title by defeating Novak Djokovic for the first time on Wednesday prior to the interview. Additionally, Draper reached the semi-finals of the 2024 US Open and achieved a career-high ranking of fourth.
Delgado, known for his successful tenure with Andy Murray—helping him win Wimbledon in 2016 and finish the year as world No 1—and a recent three-year stint with Grigor Dimitrov, emphasized a holistic approach to coaching. This involves managing Draper's physical conditioning, schedule, and off-court well-being to support on-court performance. He praised Draper's powerful game, including a solid backhand that could become more offensive, a forehand capable of overpowering opponents, and a varied serve that is hard to read.
Regarding Grand Slam prospects, Delgado was optimistic: "It could be Jack. Why not?" He pointed to Draper's progression from 250-level wins to a Masters title and a major semi-final, along with victories over Alcaraz, as building blocks for confidence. However, Draper has not yet beaten Sinner, and Delgado stressed the importance of mentality in big matches. Addressing Draper's recent arm injury, which has affected his match play and ranking, Delgado focused on long-term development while acknowledging short-term challenges.
On grass courts, where Draper has struggled—exiting Wimbledon in the second round for three years, most recently to Marin Cilic—Delgado sees potential improvements in returns and movement. He referenced Draper's junior Wimbledon final and grass title in Stuttgart. Delgado also noted vulnerabilities in the Alcaraz-Sinner dominance, suggesting that even small dips in their form could open opportunities for players like Draper.
