On the court, Draper's core team includes Trotman – whose clear and concise messages of tactics and encouragement are picked up by the microphone in the players' box – and physiotherapist Will Herbert, who accompanied Emma Raducanu when she won the 2021 US Open. and fitness trainer Steve Kotze, who has transformed a body all too prone to breakdowns.
Until recently, this coaching team also included former top 10 player Wayne Ferreira. He helped him develop a more aggressive mindset, but after four months, Draper decided he just wanted a voice in his ear.
“He's a great guy – his value as a coach but also as a person is enormous,” Draper said on the eve of the US Open.
“But I’m an overthinker, I like to keep things as simple as possible, and in elite sport difficult decisions have to be made.”
Two weeks later, Draper is in the semifinals. It appeared on the front page of the Wall Street Journal on Thursday under the headline “Contenders step out of the shadows at US Open.”
Whatever happens against Jannik Sinner on Friday, Draper will be a top-20 player for the first time – and as he predicted two years ago, that probably won't be his peak.
“I was a really late developer. There are players who developed very early and they are ready to do it when they are 22 or 21,” he said in 2022.
“But I think I’ll peak at 25.”
