Jack Draper looks ahead to his return to The Queen's Club this summer

“I feel like I’m improving all the time,” Draper said when asked how different he thinks it’ll feel returning to the HSBC Championships after all he’s achieved over the past year. “My tennis is getting better but more so the belief I have in myself, and my physical and mental capability as well.

“The fact I’ve been able to stay on court, stay consistent and play the top players in the world week in week out gives me a lot of different experiences and brings a calmness to myself because I feel like I’ve experienced a lot more.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to Queen’s this year and hopefully showing some really good tennis.”

While there are still plenty of tournaments to play before the HSBC Championships this summer, Draper will be eagerly anticipating his return to the venue which holds many special memories for him, both as a child and as a professional tennis player.

In 2021, Draper recorded his first ATP Tour win against now world No.1 Jannik Sinner at The Queen’s Club and last year earned the biggest win of his career against then world No.2 Alcaraz – becoming the only player to have defeated the Spaniard on grass in two years.

His bid for glory on home soil eventually came to an end in the quarter-finals, but the experience proved valuable for Draper who will be determined to etch his name in the history books this summer.

“It gave me a lot of confidence,” Draper said, speaking on his victory over four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz. “I had won my first tour title the week before and went in with loads of good feelings. Playing in front of a packed crowd in London, on the grass and against a great champion in Carlos was a challenge I really wanted.

“I think he’d come from the French Open and the win there maybe made him a bit below his level, but I was really happy with the way I played, the crowd was great and I’m looking forward to hopefully many more of those matches in London on those courts again.”

Draper will be more motivated than ever to go all the way this summer as he looks to emulate the success of his tennis idol Andy Murray who hauled a record-breaking five singles titles at The Queen’s Club throughout his career.

This year’s HSBC Championships will mark the first time players will compete on the ‘Andy Murray Arena’, which has been renamed in recognition of Murray’s legacy at the tournament and will make the experience for players such as Draper, who grew up idolising the former world No.1, even more special.

“I think I went to go and watch him (Andy Murray) play (at Queen’s) in maybe 2009 or 2010 – I can’t remember I was way too young at the time.

“He’s won it five times, obviously he’s a legend there – the court deserves to be named after him and it’ll be an honour to play again on that court, it really is special.”

For many Brits, the grass court season is the pinnacle of the tennis calendar. An extended period of time to compete at home, in front of British fans, at one of the most prestigious tournaments and venues in the world is something the players don’t take for granted.

However, this year’s HSBC Championships is set to be even more groundbreaking, as we prepare to welcome the return of a WTA event for the first time in over 50 years in what is an historic milestone in the tournament’s history.

“It’s amazing. Any player will say we spend so much time away from home, so whenever we’re in our home country, playing a tournament, especially Queen’s - it’s special.

“It’s been voted one of the best tournaments for the past few years and it really is – the players feel amazing there, the courts are incredible and for a Brit and for me, it’s very special.

“I think it’s amazing,” he added when asked on the new WTA event. “You always speak to the girls in the UK, and they always say, ‘why can’t we play at Queen’s as well’ and it’s true - the club there, the environment, the atmosphere, you don’t really get that anywhere.

“For all the Brits to get behind the girls as well is a great opportunity, so I’m really happy the women’s event is going there, and I think it’ll give the British girls a lot more opportunities to play some great tennis as well.”