JACK UNFAZED BY NEW STATUS

Draper won't lose sleep over filling Murray's big shoes

- Mike Walters

JACK DRAPER is ready to wear the crown as Britain's No.1 after Andy Murray's retirement but he will not Christmas stressing spend about it.

Draper, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Sunday, heads to Australia next week to prepare for the first Grand Slam of 2025, with his career path on a steep upward curve after beginning this year ranked No.61 in the world and ending it in the top 15.

He was surprised by Murray's return to the sport as 24-time Slam winner Novak Djokovic's coach, after the pair spent a lifetime trying to beat each other.

But down by the riverside, on an Alzheimer's Society Memory Walk to honour his grandmother, Draper took it all in his stride.

Murray reached his first Major final aged 21, and the next 12 months could be the year Draper's promise matures from contender to splendour.