Don’t be just competitive, be dominating- this has been the sole motto of the sports champions. And, when we enter the tennis world, the ‘Big Three’ have not only been fierce competitors on the court but have showcased their dominance every time they stepped on it. Recently the 22-year-old British tennis player, Jack Draper, spoke about Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer. But who has inspired him the most? 

Draper, who is currently ranked 61 in men’s singles, has won 5 ATP Challenger Tour titles and 7 titles on the ITF Tour. Despite being plagued by injuries for most of his career, his best performance came at the US Open this year where he reached the 4th round. He also became the youngest British tennis player since Andy Murray to reach the ATP Tour final at the Sofia Open in November 2023. Recently, he expressed his desire to follow in the footsteps of the best in the game, and here’s what he said.

The 22YO British tennis player showcases his respect for Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic

The ‘Big Three’ is a common name for the three GOATs in tennis. The trio of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer has ruled men’s tennis for almost 2 decades. They went on to clinch 293 titles in their career, including 66 Grand Slam titles altogether. Djokovic leads the list with 24 major titles, followed by Nadal with 22, and then comes the Swiss Maestro- Federer with 20 major triumphs. The ‘Big Three’ have been ranked as the world number 1 in singles for a total of 924 weeks. These stats are nothing but a reflection of dominance on the court and something to admire.

Jack Draper said he has nothing but respect for the ‘Big Three’. He added, “It’s hard to even put into words what they’ve done for the sport. Rafa winning 14 Roland Garros’ [French Open], I honestly don’t think that’s ever going to happen again. There’s Djokovic breaking records every week. The guy is just inevitable… and he seems to be improving all the time. And there’s obviously Federer, with his greatness and the exceptional results he had as well.”

Showcasing his immense respect for their achievements, Draper continues, “I think their records are going to be hard to match. They’re going to go down as probably the best three or four players of all time. They’re just legends.“

While Roger Federer has already taken retirement and Rafael Nadal slowly hinting at it, Novak Djokovic seems as if he is aging like a fine wine, showing no signs of stopping any sooner. While these three have dominated most of the time over the last few years, there is only one name that came a bit closer to them. Who’s he?

READ MORE: Rafael Nadal Favors Roger Federer Over Novak Djokovic in an Endearing Confession – ‘Player Who Has Impressed Me the Most’

Who’s the source of inspiration for Jack Draper?

Although Draper has huge admiration for the ‘Big Three’, he revealed his source of inspiration continues to be the British superstar, Andy Murray. He added the 36-year-old British tennis player continues to inspire him by fueling his hunger to achieve great things in the racket sport.

Andy Murray has been the former number one in men’s singles and has won 3 major titles in his career. He began his career at the time when Nadal & Federer were at their peaks. By 2010, he joined Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer along with Novak Djokovic to form the ‘Big Four’. However, injuries prevented Murray from flying higher, but that did not stop him from inspiring the youth. 

With the Paris Olympics knocking at the door, can we see Jack Draper team up with the British icon and win a medal for their nation? What are your thoughts? Comment below!

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