Jack Draper was one of the original players to sign the letter protesting prize money offerings by Grand Slams.
Top players including both world number ones Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka have been vocal in their campaign for Grand Slams to increase player prize money.
Players continued to protest this via a media boycott at Roland Garros, and have since requested a 16% share of the total tournament prize money.
Wimbledon announced record prize money for this year’s tournament, but it has still led to player media protests, and now Draper has given his verdict.
Jack Draper claims Wimbledon have done an ‘amazing job’ with prize money increase
Wimbledon have increased their overall prize money this year by 20%, with a total pot of £64,200,000 on offer.
Despite this, some players are still limiting media activities for 15 minutes as they claim it still does not meet their demands.
Draper was asked about this protest in his pre-tournament press conference at Wimbledon, and whether he is supporting those players.
Despite signing the original letter, Draper claimed that Wimbledon have done an ‘amazing job’ to increase the prize money pot this year.
“Yeah, I mean, when I signed the letter, it definitely made a lot of sense to me about the player welfare and looking after some of the smaller things,” said Draper. “I think the slams can definitely contribute more for the amount the slams bring in. I think the ATP do a really good job of that in general.
“I think Wimbledon have really done an amazing job this year to increase the prize money. They’re doing other things behind the scenes that really are helping the players.
“Yeah, I think Wimbledon as a tournament, and all the Grand Slams, to be fair, they’re improving every single year. I think having more attention on what they’re giving back to the players I think has been a good thing.”
Now that the draw is out, which British player do you think will do the best at Wimbledon?
Jack Draper reveals how he felt after playing Novak Djokovic in his first ever match at Wimbledon
Draper reached the semi-finals in Eastbourne last week, which was his first tournament in over two months after suffering another injury setback, this time related to his knee.
Despite being just 24 years old, Draper will be making his fifth main draw appearance at Wimbledon this year.
The first of those appearances came in 2021, when Draper was just 19 years old and faced Novak Djokovic in the first round.
Draper would win the first set of that match, but was ultimately beaten by eventual champion Djokovic 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.
Ahead of Serena Williams’ return to Wimbledon this year, Draper was asked what it felt like playing one of the greatest players in tennis history at such an early stage in his career.
“Yeah, I think it was a really special experience playing Novak, looking back,” answered Draper. “I think I was in the Aorangi when they were doing the draw, I saw his name, it was my name. I was like, Wow. A few days to sort of think about it.
“It was difficult in a way because I would say my biggest lessons from playing him and sort of I saw it after that as well by playing other matches when I came onto the tour, was almost not playing a match the day before.
“When I played him, I was already doing my grips. The night before, I was already locked in listening to Gladiator. I was sort of playing the match five hours before I even faced him. It’s a five-set match. It’s a tough, it’s a long battle.
“I just remember playing the first set, thinking like I’ve already been playing this match in my mind for a day, I’m knackered. Obviously he showed his class.
“I think that day as well, the court was extremely slippy, as well. I remember that. It was one of those things, it’s like I just started out playing. I was playing the futures. I didn’t know what I was doing with the tennis anymore. All my dreams of playing the Grand Slams and the big matches seemed like they disappeared when I played the futures, no one is there, no one is watching, in tough places.
“To play him on Centre Court reminded me why I loved the sport and reminded me why I wanted to be a top player.”
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Draper has been given another tough first round draw against Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon this year, with the Briton taking on the sixth seed on Tuesday, June 30.
The current world number 131 will also be looking to draw inspiration from his coaching team, including Andy Murray, who started working with Draper for the grass court season.
