As he makes his\u00a0long anticipated\u00a0return to competitive action, Draper is aware of the journey ahead but is confident of reaching the same heights and\u00a0pushing on\u00a0further in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think last\u00a0year definitely started off amazingly well,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u201cThe\u00a0second\u00a0half was extremely challenging, but I\u00a0took\u00a0a lot of belief and confidence from the\u00a0first\u00a0half of the year and what I achieved.\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0kept that in\u00a0mind\u00a0and I want to be competing right at the top of the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s\u00a0going to\u00a0be a bit of a challenge and a journey to get back to where I was, just because\u00a0I’ve\u00a0been out for such a long time. At the same\u00a0time\u00a0I’m\u00a0constantly getting better and\u00a0I’m\u00a0constantly improving still.\u00a0I hope I get to show that sooner more than later.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Draper will be\u00a0joining up with the Lexus GB Davis Cup team for the first time since competing at the Finals Group Stage back in 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He joins what is on paper, Great Britain\u2019s strongest side, with British No.2 and No.3 singles players Cam Norrie<\/a> and Jacob Fearnley<\/a>, as well as last year\u2019s No.1 ranked doubles team in the world, Julian Cash<\/a> and Lloyd Glasspool<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n For\u00a0Draper and Fearnley, having risen through the ranks together as juniors,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a full circle moment to\u00a0be representing\u00a0Great Britain together on the world stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0going to\u00a0be special being around Jacob again, because we grew up together, we\u00a0played Winter Cup, Summer Cup\u00a0for\u00a0Great Britain, and\u00a0there are\u00a0many pictures of us together when we were so young,\u201d Draper said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cJacob\u00a0and I\u00a0were like\u00a0very\u00a0close\u00a0friends growing up and then I went pro\u00a0pretty early\u00a0and he went to college.\u00a0A\u00a0lot of the players now from the UK have come out of college and are playing really\u00a0well\u00a0and he’s one of those.\u00a0We\u00a0kind of lost\u00a0contact for a while,\u00a0but we\u00a0always\u00a0remained\u00a0really good\u00a0friends.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBeing together with him will be extra special, but also the other boys as well. Julian, Cam, Lloyd,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0just going to\u00a0be a really\u00a0great team\u00a0environment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n In the\u00a0build up\u00a0to the tie, Draper has been at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, preparing himself for the tough challenge ahead.\u00a0<\/p>\n The British star is excited to be back amongst the team but knows full well the threat this Norwegian side can pose.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve\u00a0always been training here\u00a0at the\u00a0NTC since I was young, so\u00a0I know all the coaches\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0LTA\u00a0and I think\u00a0it’s\u00a0a special environment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s\u00a0(the Davis Cup)\u00a0like\u00a0we’re\u00a0taking that on the road.\u00a0I think\u00a0that’s\u00a0the main thing\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0looking forward to,\u00a0being a part of the team and all the amazing people that are in it.\u00a0\u2029\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m\u00a0expecting them to play\u00a0amazing.\u00a0They’ve\u00a0obviously got a young player,\u00a0(Nicolai\u00a0Budkov)\u00a0Kjaer, who was\u00a0No.1\u00a0in the world juniors and playing great tennis on the tour.\u00a0He’ll\u00a0be\u00a0really\u00a0tough\u00a0and we all know Casper Ruud\u00a0has been\u00a0a\u00a0top 10 player for a long time.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s\u00a0going to\u00a0be a great challenge for us all, but I think we’re ready to embrace it and we’re ready to fight for every point.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Great Britain will face Norway in the Davis Cup Qualifiers First Round on 5-6 February. You can watch the action live on the Tennis Channel or on BBC\u00a0iPlayer\u00a0and the BBC Sport website.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"2025-Jack-Draper-Wimbledon-prep.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2025-jack-draper-wimbledon-prep.jpg\")
<\/p>\n