The year began on a high note for Jack Draper with his title run in Indian Wells. Unfortunately, during Wimbledon he picked up an injury, and his return at the US Open made it clear to fans that his shoulder still isn’t fully healed. As Rafa fans, we can definitely relate to players dealing with recurring injuries — we’ve lived through that cycle many times. Jack comes across as such a genuine, likeable guy, and it’s always lovely hearing him speak about Rafa with so much admiration. This is a segment from his nearly two-hour interview on The Tennis Podcast, published on their YouTube channel; we pulled out the part where he talks about Rafa.

Interviewer: Is it right that Nadal was your tennis hero?

Jack Draper: Correct, yeah. I just loved everything about him.

Interviewer: Tell us what he meant to you, if you can sum that up.

Jack Draper: I look back, I had all the kits, you know — I had all the kits. I just think his fighting spirit, the grunt, his iconic style of play. I remember when I played him in 2023. The first set I was kind of playing against him, and obviously he was injured that tournament, but it was like… I couldn’t get used to his grunt. I’d never practised with him before, and he was my idol growing up. To be on the other side of the net from him was a crazy thing.

I wouldn’t say I was getting pumped for loads of tennis matches even a couple of years ago — watching people play and stuff — but I’d watch him play and I’d be glued to the TV still, because of who he is. You know legend.

Interviewer: Favourite Nadal kit? Did you have the three-quarter length?

Jack Draper: My favourite Nadal kit? Yeah, yeah, I had the—yeah. I actually have a pair back home. I pulled them out on court like two years ago. I think I got laughed off, so that wasn’t ideal. But no, I think it was the 2008 one, when he won the French.

Interviewer: Green?

Jack Draper: Yeah — was it the green one? Oh no, 2007 was the white and blue. And then, yeah, I loved that kit in ’08. I think he tore up the draw; I think he lost about 20 games.

Interviewer: Yeah, didn’t he drop a bagel on Federer in the final?

Jack Draper: Yeah. I mean, the first few rounds… There’s a famous video of Almagro — very windy day — and Nadal is taking him apart. He kind of throws his racket up and he’s like—I don’t know if he’s speaking to his coach or someone in the corner—he’s like, “He’s going to be winning Roland Garros sixty years to come.” Search it up on YouTube; he says, “He’s going to win Roland Garros until he’s 60,” or something like that. And he wasn’t wrong, because he was still battling.

Interviewer: Earlier you mentioned that word aura. When you were playing Nadal — obviously not peak Nadal, as you said — did you feel that aura he brings onto court? And is that as much of a challenge as the match-up for young players coming up against legends?

Jack Draper: Yeah, of course it is. It’s the same for anyone: when you idolise someone growing up and then suddenly you’re in a spot where you’re playing them, it’s a bit weird. When you’ve watched them on TV since you were nine years old, and suddenly you’re in the changing room about to play them, they’re doing their warm-up, putting their headband on, doing their crazy warm-ups… It’s tough to focus on what you’re trying to achieve. Your body is tense.

I think I cramped up in that match because I was thinking about it the night before. All my friends were messaging me: “You’re playing Nadal!” Maybe I was younger then, so I didn’t know how to switch off from it. But definitely, playing against those guys who’ve achieved complete greatness in the game… it’s different.

Even Andy — training with him all the time helped me. If I’d just faced him on the court without that experience, it would’ve been a bit weird.

Interviewer: Is aura something you’re conscious of creating yourself? Like, trying to be an intimidating presence to the opponent?

Jack Draper: Yeah, definitely. I think that’s a big part of things. I always try and think: if I were a player playing against myself, I’d want them to think, “This guy’s not going to give up on any point. He’s got a great backhand, great forehand.” I want them to see no weaknesses.

That’s a big part of why I’m not a massive fan of exhibitions. In exhibitions, the gladiator part comes out of it. I’ll probably be playing UTS, and look, it’s a decent event or whatever, but I’ll be called The Power and all this stuff. I don’t want my competition thinking of me as “the power.” I want them thinking: “This guy is bang on it, and he’s not going to give me a point.”

Maybe that’s just my mentality, maybe that’s stupid — but I think intimidation and presence are a big part of tennis, and any sport. Your opponent needs to know you’re going to be a tough player to beat.

Interviewer: Do you think you’ve ever mimicked Nadal, given he was your hero? You’re a lefty, you’ve got a lot of rotations on the ball, some people say the forehand even looks a bit like his. Have you ever thought, “He does it this way, so that must be right”?

Jack Draper: No. The only two things I’ve mimicked are the kit — which didn’t look great on me; you need the long hair to pull it off — and the grunt. I tried to do the grunt but my voice started cracking really quickly. Sounded awful. So there aren’t many ways you can mimic him. You get to a point where you’re like: right, I’ve just got to be the person I am. That’s why he’s so iconic — there’s one Nadal.