Fears have been expressed that Draper, who was once one of the most highly regarded young stars on the circuit, may be reaching a plateau in his career. His ranking, at 23, has been hovering around the 40-point range for some time.
The Daily Telegraph claims that Ferreira’s hiring is expected to “add a spark” to Draper’s team. James Trotman of the Lawn Tennis Association has been mentoring the young player, and he is anticipated to continue as Draper’s coach.
From 2020 to 2023, Ferreira—a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist—had success collaborating with Frances Tiafoe. When he was playing for the South Africans, Tiafoe’s ranking rose from the 80s to the top 10, but their relationship ended last year due to a difficult period of play.
According to reports, the 52-year-old has been working with Draper and Trotman at the National Tennis Centre for the past few days. The three are working on an Italian Open strategy.
Draper, who is currently ranked 43rd, is somewhat at a disadvantage going into Monday’s draw in Rome because he is not currently ranked highly enough to earn one of the 32 seeds for the tournament. His performances against the best tennis players have frustrated him, as he believes he has given up and allowed himself to be defeated.
Following a loss to 13th-ranked Taylor Fritz at the Bavarian International in April, Draper stated that a mental shift is what will determine how much better he gets. “I feel like I’m getting better and better physically, looking at my results,” he stated.
