Jack Draper, the British No. 1, has once again been overlooked for a match at the prestigious Centre Court during Wimbledon, as his second-round clash against Marin Cilic is scheduled for No. 1 Court. Draper, who is seeded fourth, will play back-to-back matches in the less prominent arena, while Dan Evans, a wild card entry, is the only British player to be featured in Centre Court’s day four lineup.
Historically, British tennis icons such as Sir Andy Murray and Tim Henman would typically play their initial rounds on Centre Court. Interestingly, Henman currently chairs the scheduling selection committee that has opted to showcase big names like Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the main arena, relegating Draper to a secondary role.
Throughout his Wimbledon journey, Draper has only had the opportunity to play two of his seven matches on Centre Court. His first was against Djokovic in 2021, followed by a match against Cameron Norrie last year, which he lost. Most of his encounters have taken place on No. 1 Court, the only exception being a 2022 first-round win on No. 12 Court.
In a recent statement, Draper expressed his aspiration to make Centre Court his home: “The home support that I’m going to have and people right behind me is going to be amazing. I think it’s going to be a privilege to play as the British No. 1.” As he prepares to face Cilic, a seasoned player and former US Open champion, Draper is aware of the challenge ahead, especially given his opponent’s experience and a recent winning streak in warm-up events.
Draper navigated his way to the second round without much trouble, benefiting from an early retirement by his opponent, Sebastian Baez, due to injury. With aspirations to improve upon his past performances at Wimbledon, Draper is focused on unlocking his best level on grass—a surface he admits he is still coming to grips with.
He remains optimistic about the future: “I think I’ve still got so much to unlock on the grass. I think that’s really exciting for me. I love Wimbledon. I think if there’s any tournament I want to play my best in, any tournament that I want to win, it’s this one.”
Overall, while Draper’s scheduling might not have favored him this time, his passion for the sport and desire to succeed on grass courts showcase a promising future ahead for the young British talent.