Jack Draper was motivated to bid for Paris 2024 by Andy Murray’s exploits in 2012.

Twelve years after witnessing Andy Murray win a gold medal in London, Jack Draper aspires to emulate him at the Olympics.

When Murray achieved spectacular retribution on Centre Court a few weeks later, Draper, who was ten at the time, was in the stands to see the Scot’s heartbreaking loss to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final.

Now, as Murray retires with one last chance to win a medal, Draper—whose father Roger has served as chief executive of Warrington Wolves, the Lawn Tennis Association, and Sport England—is getting ready to make his debut at the Games in Paris.

“I remember watching Andy play Federer in the London Olympic final, and he hit this ace on match point, and the chalk came up,” Draper remarked.

“It gave him so much confidence, and I think that’s what set up the next phase of his career in terms of winning so many titles.” A month prior, I was present when he lost to Federer in the Wimbledon final.

It’s unbelievable to be on the same squad with him right now, and this will undoubtedly be his final event. Being a part of this team makes me proud, even if that’s a really difficult thing to do.

During his early years on the tour, Murray mentored 22-year-old Draper, who rose to the top of the British charts earlier this summer.

“It’s comforting to know that there is someone there with whom you have a good relationship who has accomplished a great deal in the sport and has encountered every scenario—the kinds of situations that I hope to encounter but haven’t yet,” Draper remarked.

“Andy greatly impressed me; I’ve expressed this publicly. Whenever we are having a serious chat, I always remind him how fantastic he has done and how many players he has influenced.

Murray’s immediate goals are to spend more time with his family and work on his golf game. He is unsure of his future in tennis, but Draper does not think he will give up the game for good.

“It’s weird, but I don’t feel like he’s going to just leave,” he remarked. We’ll play golf and stay in touch because we live close to one another.

“I’m sure he’ll always be around tennis and want to know how I’m doing or how others are doing since he’s enamored with the game. It feels good to know that he is here to stay as well.

His remaining matches this season have mostly consisted of heartbreaking tight defeats, like as a five-set match in the French Open first round against Jesper de Jong.

But Draper believes he can perform even better the second time around at Roland Garros, where he will begin his campaign on Saturday against Kei Nishikori, a former US Open finalist from Japan.

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