Draper’s great chance to emerge from shadow of Raducanu and KO Nadal at the Australian Open

Jack Draper has acknowledged how helpful it has been to ride along in Emma Raducanu’s slipstream, so much so that he goes unrecognised on London’s Tube.

This would all change if, early next week, he knocked top seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal out in the Australian Open first round.

For the powerful left-hander from Surrey, just turned 21, it looks a lip-smacking draw. There has rarely been a better time to face the Spanish legend, and Draper is easing into the kind of form that makes him one of the tour’s fastest climbers.

Thursday’s formalities also put Raducanu — recovering well from last week’s ankle problem — on course to meet Coco Gauff in the second round, and Andy Murray will clash with Matteo Berrettini.

Yet Draper would emerge from the shade of Britain’s highest profile duo if he were to take down Nadal, something that looks within his compass.

‘It will be amazing to play on a big court against him, he is a great champion,’ he said of the Spaniard. ‘There are a lot of emotions, thinking about playing him, but I have still got to do well in the tournament. Whatever happens it will be a special occasion for me. I’m still very young in my career, so it’s great to have these sorts of experiences and exposure to playing Rafa on a big arena. I’ll just be trying to play well and do the best I can.’

Draper learned of his draw within an hour of dispatching world No 20 Karen Khachanov 6-4, 7-6 in the quarter-finals of the Adelaide International. This morning he was due to face Kwon Soon-woo, of South Korea.

Since the US Open Nadal has lost six of his seven matches, including the two he has played this year, one against Britain’s Cam Norrie. His serve looked to be below par in the recent United Cup, but there is no player more masterful at peaking for the biggest events. His fitness has appeared uncertain, although experience tells you that looks can be deceptive.

A year ago Draper was winning Challenger level tournaments and ranked outside the top 250. After 12 months of eye-catching improvement he is now inside the world’s best 40. 

‘He’s someone who fights very hard for every point,’ Draper said of Nadal at a recent GQ Heroes event. ‘He’s a very humble guy. You can learn so many lessons from a great athlete like that.’

After avenging last week’s defeat by Khachanov, Draper added: ‘Having lost last week my coach (James Trotman) got me out on court and said, “Jack, you have got to hit the ball harder”. The other thing has been getting used to the conditions. I had been ill so I was under-cooked.’

Five-times Australian finalist Murray is unseeded these days, but his form looked encouraging as he beat Australian Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-3 at the Kooyong Classic exhibition in the Melbourne suburbs.

He played Berrettini, seeded 13, in the US Open third round in September and lost in four highly competitive sets. The returning Kyle Edmund faces another top Italian in Jannik Sinner, while 11th seed Norrie is up against wildcard Luca van Assche and 26th seed Dan Evans plays Argentine Facundo Bagnis.

The last time Britain had five men in Melbourne’s main draw was 1988. Raducanu is practising again, moving well, and was given a decent opener against German Tamara Korpatsch, 27, who she beat last year in Stuttgart.

That could lead to a second round match against Gauff, world No 7 and the only player younger than her to be ranked higher.

Harriet Dart was given a difficult but winnable first round tie against Swiss No 32 seed Jil Teichmann.

A disappointing qualifying event for the nine GB players entered ended with final round defeats for Jodie Burrage and Lily Miyazaki.