JACK THE LAD IS ALL MAN NOW

McEnroe sees Draper develop into a real physical specimen

- By Neil McLeman

JOHN MCENROE sees Jack Draper as the fourth favourite to win Wimbledon after growing from a five-foot 14-year-old into a “physical specimen”.

The three-time Wimbledon champion McEnroe first saw the tiny teenager in action at his US tennis academy and “wasn’t quite sure why he was even there”.

But the British No.1, now a strapping 6ft 4in, has also seen a spurt in his career over the past 12 months, reaching the US Open semi-finals and winning the Indian Wells Masters.

Now 23, Draper will be the fourth seed when the draw is made in SW19 this morning and so will avoid Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz until the semi-finals. Alex Zverev is the No.3 seed.

McEnroe said: “I’m very impressed with Jack Draper. I knew he had a lot of talent. I didn’t realise he was that good an athlete.

“He’s really developed into a force. He’s seeded four, he’s four in the world so to me, he’s the fourth favourite.