Home-grown gamers delight Wimbledon followers on hunt for ‘new Andy Murray’

British followers endured 77 years with out a male participant lifting the title, after Fred Perry’s third win in 1936.

First got here “Henmania”, then “Murray Madness”, earlier than the Scot ended the wait with the primary of his two Wimbledon triumphs in 2013.

Now, a surging new technology of British gamers are making their mark, with fourth seed Draper, 23, main the pack following Murray’s farewell in 2024.

Seven males together with Draper, Dan Evans, Jack Pinnington Jones and novice Oliver Tarvet all made it into this yr’s second spherical Britain’s finest tally at any Grand Slam occasion since 1997.

The robust displaying has set the house crowd up for some thrilling tennis on Thursday with Evans as a result of face seven-time champion Novak Djokovic whereas Draper will play Croatia’s Marin Cilic.

“Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!” mentioned chartered physiotherapist Carol Sweet. “Seven into the second round is amazing.”

Centre court docket erupted Wednesday as Tarvet hit a string of winners earlier than he was knocked out by reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz.

“It’s great, you can hear the noise and how much louder it is,” mentioned engineer Cameron Maxwell, 27 as the group roared in help.

“As a spectator you’re just more revved up for it,” added accountant Guy Millward, 59.

Long-time British tennis followers John and Sarah Pickthorn mentioned it was encouraging to see so many UK gamers lastly making progress after years once they had been few and much between.

“For a very long time we’ve been here watching Germans and Swedes and Americans and Australians and it is very nice to see that we can produce not just one player Andy Murray,” added John, a retired banker.

Money pumped into the game by the the Lawn Tennis Association, British tennis’s governing physique, was “at last starting to show results”, he mentioned.

“It gives you that extra bit of excitement when they do go through,” his spouse Sarah, a retired inside designer, added.

Draper has been eager to dampen down expectations though he says British tennis is presently “in a good spot”, partly as a result of Murray’s affect.

“Andy has had an enormous impact on numerous the youthful technology, watching his success through the years, main success on the large stage.

“It’s really exciting what we’re going to have in the next 10 years…. It’s cool to be a part of that,” he mentioned this week.

Prominent tennis figures predict massive issues for the well-rounded Londoner who studied criminology, enjoys whizzing up a cocktail and has even turned his hand to modelling.

“I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t win multiple majors,” John McEnroe mentioned final month on the French Open.

Former combined doubles champion Jamie Murray, who can also be Andy Murray’s brother, is much more sure.

“He is Britain’s next tennis superstar. There’s no ifs or buts about that.”

Home-grown winners have been in brief provide since Perry loved three consecutive wins between 1934-36 on the All England Club in southwest London.

It was one other six a long time earlier than Tim Henman burst onto the scene within the Nineteen Nineties and supplied some long-awaited buzz.

His 4 semi-final appearances sparked “Henmania” amongst British followers however the title finally eluded him.

Murray lastly managed to observe in Perry’s footsteps, a yr after dropping within the closing to Roger Federer.

For now Draper is retaining his ft on the bottom.

“I’m not trying to be the next Andy Murray,” he informed The Times in January.

“He’s one of the greatest players there ever was and ever will be, and to put that level of pressure on myself, I just don’t do it. I focus on achieving my own potential,” he added.

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