Jack Draper is through to the last eight in Indian Wells (Image: Getty)
has enjoyed an impressive start to the 2025 season, picking up exactly where he left off last year. The Brit enjoyed plenty of career firsts in 2024, winning two titles and reaching the world’s top 15. And he’s still causing problems for top players, upsetting to reach the quarter-final in Indian Wells.
Throughout his rise up the rankings, Draper has been assisted by his coach, James Trotman – better known as ‘Trots’. While some players and coaches strictly focus on tennis, Draper is pleased to have a great off-court relationship with Trotman – so much so that he believes his mentor could be “getting tired of him”.
Draper has long been tipped to be a great prospect but it took a while for the Brit to find consistency on the professional tour after being dogged by multiple injuries and setbacks early in his career.
Over the last year, the 23-year-old has transformed into one of the world’s best players and a name no one wants to face in the draw. And he credits a lot of his success and improvement to his team, especially his coach, ‘Trots’.
The British No. 1 opened up on their relationship after reaching his first Indian Wells quarter-final on Wednesday night and explained that their off-court bond was just as important as their tactics.
“He’s one of a kind. He hasn’t got hardly any ego at all,” Draper told Tennis Channel. “Not only does he know so much about tennis but he’s got such a good character and personality for me.
“He always wants to help and is always understanding of how, especially as a young player, we go through a lot off the court. He’s always been there for me and is always amazing.”
Jack Draper says he can have a laugh with his coach, James Trotman (Image: Getty)
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Draper and Trotman remain professional when it comes to tennis, but the 23-year-old enjoys having a laugh when his mentor when they’re away from tournament grounds.
He continued: “We have such a great relationship and a lot of respect for each other as well. It’s nice to be on the road with him and come through all these types of emotions.
“We talk tennis and keep it very professional, but it’s also nice to be able to go out to dinner with someone and laugh and sort of take the mick out of each other and have a good time.”
It’s crucial for Draper to have a good relationship with his coach, given how much time they spend together. But the world No. 14 confessed that they sometimes got sick of each other.
“We’re living with each other all the time. I see him more than my mom or my dog, and I don’t want to,” he joked.
“He probably gets tired of me as well. But we always have a good time. We want to win and have great success together, but we can still have a laugh.”
And Trotman shares the same sentiment as his player. “I’m very lucky to have the opportunity to work with Jack, to be on the journey with him,” he recently told the .
“At the end of the day, a ranking is a ranking and I’m interested in trying to get the best out of someone, whoever I’m coaching.
“We get on great, you have to. When you’re living in each other’s shoes and spending as much time as you do around each other in a high-pressure situation – not necessarily a normal situation.
“Our relationship is really good. We can have a laugh, we can have our own space, and we can have difficult conversations with each other when needed, and respect each other’s opinion.”