Jack Draper heads to Wimbledon ready to make some waves after stellar run

The 22-year-old even beat reigning SW19 champion Carlos Alcaraz en route to the quarter-finals at Queen’s Club.

His seven-match winning streak – which included that title in Stuttgart – was finally ended by American world number 13 Tommy Paul.

But that doesn’t take away from how Draper, who admitted to being “all over the place” after his first-round elimination at the French Open last month, has quickly rebuilt his game and his confidence.

Suddenly the son of former LTA chief Roger Draper looks set to succeed Andy Murray as the jewel in the nation’s tennis crown.

“I think if you want to be one of the best players in the world, you have to back up your results week after week, day after day,” he said.

“You know you’re in a great situation and you’re one of the best players in the world when you’re able to do that, because every day we play incredible tennis players who can beat you.

“So if you’re not quite on your game, you lose the match because the other player is playing well and he beats you.

“That’s kind of the next step for me now. I want to try to get deeper into tournaments and back it up every week. Those are just things that I probably have to get used to at the highest level and learn.

“I’m still young. I’m trying to put a lot of things together. Obviously it was my first title – I’ve done it at challenger and futures level, but it’s very different on the main circuit. I just probably need a little more time.”

Draper is the only bright spot in an otherwise bleak outlook among Britain’s top men.

Murray’s participation, in what would be his final championship, is in doubt after the two-time winner was injured at Queen’s, a tournament which also involved Dan Evans due to a slip on the court.

Cameron Norrie, ranked eighth in the world 18 months ago, is now on the verge of falling outside the top 40 after losing nine of his last 15 matches, including first-round eliminations at Roland Garros and Queen’s and a defeat in Nottingham by the world no. 773Jack Pinnington Jones.

Among the wildcards collecting a first-round payday of £60,000, the usual suspects include Liam Broady, Arthur Fery, Paul Jubb and Jan Choinski.

They are joined by last year’s junior champion, Henry Searle, from whom big things are expected in the future.

Then there’s Billy Harris, the 29-year-old journeyman from Nottingham who, until recently, traveled to tournaments and slept in a converted transport van.

Before Queen’s, Harris’ total career prize money was £230,000, but his surprise run to the quarter-finals coupled with his Wimbledon wild card earned him £112,000 in three days.