Jack Draper's six-word Andy Murray quip says it all about tennis stars' relationship

Jack Draper thrashed Jenson Brooksby to reach the round of 16 at the Queen's Club Championships on Tuesday, and he had the crowd in stitches with a comment about Andy Murray

Chris Burns Senior Sports Writer and Charlie Gordon

08:47, 18 Jun 2025

Jack Draper puts his hand to his chin with a microphone in front of him as he talks to press

Jack Draper has claimed that he's "inspired" by Andy Murray(Image: Europa Press 2025)

Jack Draper delighted the Queen's Club crowd with a witty, six-word remark about Andy Murray following his triumphant start to the grass-court season on Tuesday.

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Draper sailed through to the round of 16 after a commanding 6-3, 6-1 victory over US star Jenson Brooksby, setting up a clash with Australia's Alexei Popyrin.

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After his straight-sets win over Brooksby, Draper was quizzed on what it felt like to secure his maiden victory on the court that's now known as the 'Andy Murray Arena'. Bringing out a huge eruption of laughter from the crowd, Draper playfully said: "Can't get rid of this guy!".

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Draper also teased the possibility of an exciting coaching partnership with the British tennis icon, saying: "maybe I'll see him soon".

Since Murray's recent split with Novak Djokovic, there has been speculation about his readiness to return to coaching, but many anticipate his eventual re-entry into the sport will be in collaboration with one of Britain's leading talents.

"Andy is an unbelievable guy," Draper added. "He's someone I'm incredibly inspired by. I wouldn't be where I am without him.

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Jack Draper holds up his racket and claps with it to the crowd while on court

Jack Draper will play Alexei Popyrin in the round of 16 at Queen's(Image: Getty)

"I remember coming here when I was younger, watching him winning these tournaments. He's just an incredible person to get to know.

"I definitely miss seeing him on the tour. But at the same time, hopefully I'll get to see him around. Who knows? Maybe I'll see him soon. Thank you, Andy. This court deserves to be named after you, for sure."

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Draper dispatched Brooksby in a mere 77 minutes on a blistering afternoon at Queen's, without even facing a break point during the match.

Despite the challenging conditions, the home favourite remained cool and hydrated, applying ice to his neck at every changeover, reports the Express.

Jack Draper puts his arm around Andy Murray and smiles

Jack Draper was full of praise for Andy Murray after the former's win at Queen's on Tuesday(Image: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images for Battle of the Brits)

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A strong performance at Queen's could provide a much-needed confidence boost for Draper ahead of Wimbledon, who has yet to progress beyond the second round of his home Grand Slam. The tournament is set to commence at the end of this month.

The 23-year-old has proven himself as a serious contender at the top level this season. He briefly climbed to fourth in the ATP world rankings, although he has since slipped back to sixth following Taylor Fritz's victory in Stuttgart over the weekend.

Since the year's commencement, Draper has made it to the finals of both the Qatar Open and the Madrid Open as well as clinching the biggest tournament win of his career so far at Indian Wells in March.