Jack Draper is hoping Boris Becker has not improved Holger Rune too much (Picture: Getty)
British tennis star Jack Draper has lauded ‘amazing coach’ Boris Becker ahead of the UTS Grand Final in London.
Draper, 21, is set to play in front of a home crowd this week as the UTS Grand Final gets underway on Friday, with the event set to conclude on Sunday.
It is being held at ExCeL London and features a number of top players, including Holger Rune, who is coached by three-time Wimbledon champion Becker.
The German, a former world No.1 who won six Grand Slam singles titles as a player, formerly coached Novak Djokovic and recently returned to the ATP Tour.
The 56-year-old joined Rune’s team in October after a spell in prison for failing to declare £2.5 million worth of assets to avoid paying debts.
Draper will cross paths with Becker at the UTS Grand Final when he takes on Rune in Group B and asked for his thoughts on the tennis legend, he told Metro.co.uk: ‘In all honesty, I have heard a lot about Boris.
‘He was an unbelievable player. He has coached Djokovic and has been around the circuit for a long time.
Boris Becker coached Novak Djokovic to six of his 24 Grand Slam singles titles (Picture: Getty)
‘He is an amazing coach and I’m sure he will work very well with Rune. It seemed towards the end of this year he had already made good improvements and was playing well again.
‘Hopefully when I play Rune, he has not improved too much again!’
Asked if he would ever want to team up with Becker himself, Draper added: ‘At the moment I am very content with my coach, James Trotman.
Jack Draper has enjoyed a strong 2023 and reached his first ATP Tour final (Picture: Getty)
‘We will see if the future [if I will be interested] but I definitely have a lot of respect for Boris and it will good to see him around on the ATP Tour.’
All players featuring at the UTS Grand Final have adopted nicknames with Draper picking ‘The Power’ – which is a tribute to British darts hero Phil Taylor.
‘One of the best darts players of all time comes from the UK and his name is Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor,’ Draper added.
Jack Draper’s nickname at the UTS Grand Final was inspired by Phil Taylor (Picture: Getty)
‘He’s just retired so I thought I would keep his nickname going. I also think it goes with the way I play.
‘I have a powerful game style. The darts when I was growing up, I always used to watch Phil Taylor.’
Draper will also face Alexander Bublik and Gael Monfils in his group at the UTS Grand Final and is looking forward to all three of his matches.
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‘All of them are very exciting,’ Draper said. ‘I’ve played Monflis and Bublik before. They are both real characters and showmen, so they will be great for the crowd to watch.
‘Rune is a young player, I’ve never played him before, but he has established himself at the top of the sport and he’s an incredible player.
‘I’m looking forward to all of them, they’re all top players in their own right, it will be great to watch and it will be really fun to play against them.’
Limited tickets are remaining for the UTS Grand Final. Buy online at www.uts.live or on the day at the Box Office at ExCel, London.
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‘I have heard a lot about Boris.’