In a sense, Jack Draper has been here before. Two years ago, as he was training on the practice courts of Wimbledon, he learned that he was to face the defending champion and top seed, Novak Djokovic, in the first round on his debut.
On Monday Draper will take up a similar position on his Australian Open debut as he stares down Rafael Nadal, also the defending champion and top seed. But back at Wimbledon, Draper was 19 years old and ranked 253, a wildcard entrant gaining a brief glimpse into the top level of professional tennis even as he was defeated in four sets. Today he is firmly embedded inside the top 50 and hungry for a breakthrough. He will play to win.
