Jack Draper is all set to make a much-awaited return to the court after over two months of absence. Yet his comeback at the Eastbourne Open next week is marred by questions. Implementing coaching shifts while recovering and especially ahead of a tournament hardly inspires confidence among fans and analysts. Despite the prevailing sentiment, however, Draper is beaming with positivity. With Andy Murray set to guide him from the sidelines, the British No. 3 isn’t short on confidence.

“Andy is amazing, to be honest,” he said in an interview released by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). “I have a great relationship with him off the court, but on the court, there are very few people who know more than Andy, and he has been an amazing support to me. Especially in this moment right now, that he believes in me, in my tennis, and backing me to do well means the world to me.”

The three-time Grand Slam champion joined in May as the replacement for Jamie Delgado — who previously coached Murray himself. Like Draper, the former World No.1 is no stranger to navigating physical struggles. He famously overcame two major hip surgeries in 2019 and climbed his way back to the top — including a memorable win over Stan Wawrinka in the European Open final.

“No one can quite understand what it’s like until you have gone through it. Andy has been through so much throughout his career. Injuries, adversities, and setbacks. But he always came through them and was incredibly good at coming back and showing what he is all about,” he added.

From watching Murray compete in 2013 to having him as a coach, Draper’s relationship with his compatriot has come a long way. The two even practised together before their memorable clash at the BNP Paribas Open in 2023, which the then-21-year-old Draper won.

Back then, the young Briton said his relationship with Murray “had two stages” — inspiration and then friendship. Three years later, Draper’s childhood idol will oversee his comeback at a crucial point in his career, adding another layer to their bond.

But the admiration goes both ways. After taking Draper under his wing, Murray quickly hailed him as a “quick learner” and a “more complete player” than he had imagined.

“In the sessions I’ve done with him, I’ve been more impressed probably than what I expected and I thought he was good before I started helping him,” he told The Sun. Now, Murray must help Draper become the “top, top player” he described him as three years ago.

The British No. 3 has faced recurring fitness problems since the 2025 US Open, when he withdrew from his second-round clash due to a left-arm injury. He remained sidelined until late February.

Draper then went on to have an impressive run at the Indian Wells Masters, where he recorded a stunning 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 victory over Novak Djokovic. The thrilling two and a half hour clash ended with the Briton’s first victory over the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

However, his momentum was halted following a quarterfinal defeat to Daniil Medvedev. The Brit then exited the Miami Open in the first round, before encountering an issue in his right knee against Tomas Martin Etcheverry in Barcelona. He withdrew from the match at 3-6, 6-3, 4-1.

The injury forced him off the clay swing, limiting him to eight matches and dropping his ranking to No. 113 — a dramatic fall from No. 10 at the start of this year.

But while Draper’s recovery and possible comeback are grabbing the headlines, a major conversation has emerged regarding Murray’s impact.

How can Murray influence Jack Draper’s tennis?

Murray’s high-profile arrival at Draper’s camp hasn’t gone under the radar. A spate of analysts and tennis personalities have hailed the move, including former World No.1 John McEnroe. Reflecting on the hire, McEnroe believes Murray coaching Draper “really makes sense.” Echoing that opinion, Greg Rusedski has celebrated the move as “a brilliant appointment.”

“He (Murray) can give him all of that experience, knowledge, and how to manage the difficulties of the British press, the media, and the expectation that’s on his shoulders at the moment,” Rusedski stated on an episode of the Off Court Cuts podcast. 

But not everyone is impressed, with a tinge of skepticism hovering around Draper’s health. Former ATP player Sam Querrey said Murray’s arrival “is not exciting,” citing Draper’s struggles to be fit for competition. Meanwhile, former junior Wimbledon champion Laura Robson is worried the British legend’s presence on the sidelines may serve as a distraction.

“In some way it’s really beneficial that Andy’s in his corner, but in other ways it’s more pressure as well,” she told SkySports. 

As for improvement, Draper has already highlighted a few “key” lessons from his new coach. Murray has helped him transition to a platform serve and utilize his legs more. Considering the injuries in his arm, which nearly required surgery in 2023, re-evaluating his serve would prove pivotal for Draper.

“Since Andy’s come on board, he’s taken a look at my tennis and definitely worked on some stuff, (particularly) biomechanical changes on my serve,” he told reporters ahead of his first-round clash against Brandon Nakashima at Eastbourne.

Draper will lock horns against Nakashima for the fourth time on the tour, and the Brit currently has a 2-1 lead in the head-to-head record. The two have faced each other twice on grass courts so far, and Draper has emerged victorious on both occasions.

Draper’s return to Eastbourne will play a major role in his hopes of competing at Wimbledon. A decent performance at the best-of-three set event will help build momentum for best-of-five matchups at the All England Club.

Will Draper continue his unbeaten record against Nakashima on grass, or will the American spoil the Briton’s much-anticipated comeback? We will have to wait and see.