Jack Draper: From Clay Court Challenges to High Fashion Campaigns
Rising British Star Faces Setback in Monte Carlo While Making Waves in Fashion
British tennis star Jack Draper is making headlines this week both on and off the court. The world No. 6 faced a disappointing exit from the Monte Carlo Masters while simultaneously debuting in Burberry's prestigious High Summer fashion campaign. This dual spotlight highlights Draper's growing profile as not only one of Britain's most promising tennis talents but also as an emerging presence in the fashion world.
Monte Carlo Struggles: A Clay Court Learning Curve
The 23-year-old British No. 1 exited the Monte Carlo Masters following a hard-fought three-set battle against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round. Despite moments of brilliance, Draper ultimately succumbed 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4 in a match that highlighted both his potential and the challenges he continues to face on clay courts.
After cruising through his second-round match against American Marcos Giron with an impressive 6-1, 6-1 scoreline, Draper struggled to maintain that level of consistency against the more experienced clay-court player in Davidovich Fokina. The match featured dramatic momentum shifts, with Draper twice coming back from being a break down in the deciding set, showcasing his fighting spirit. However, his performance was marred by 46 unforced errors and 10 double faults, including a crucial one on match point that sealed his fate BBC Sport1.
"There aren't easy conditions here, sometimes it's lively, sometimes it's a bit slower when you're playing a bit later, but I feel like I've been transitioning well to the clay," Draper had said before the match. "I've been working really hard to look for my forehand and do all the right things to be effective on this surface because I've struggled a little bit [on it] over the last couple of years but hopefully, with my new tennis, I can have a good run," The Telegraph2 reported.
Those struggles were evident throughout the contest as Draper could be heard berating himself with cries of "wake up" and "come on" in attempts to increase his energy and focus during key moments BBC Sport1.
One particularly memorable highlight came during the second-set tie-break, where Draper produced what commentators described as a "gold amid the dross" — a stunning 26-shot rally that culminated in an "apparently impossible forehand pass" The Telegraph2. Despite such flashes of brilliance, his inconsistency, particularly on serve, proved costly.
Davidovich Fokina, who appeared to struggle with his own mental game, offered a remarkably candid assessment after his victory: "Today I didn't feel at my best or at my best mentally with my strategy. It was a rollercoaster with my mind, I didn't know how to control the emotions and I didn't respect myself or my team. I am so sorry with how I did today and I am happy with the win and I will be ready for tomorrow," The Guardian3 reported.
Career Context: Indian Wells Champion Adapting to Clay
Draper's Monte Carlo performance comes on the heels of his breakthrough victory at Indian Wells earlier this year, which helped propel him to his career-high ranking of world No. 6. That hard-court success underscores the challenge he now faces in translating his powerful game to clay, a surface that historically hasn't been his favorite BBC Sport1.
The clay court season represents a critical development phase for Draper, who has demonstrated tremendous potential on faster surfaces. His ability to adapt his game to the slower, higher-bouncing clay courts will be crucial for his continued ascent in the rankings and his prospects at the upcoming French Open.
While the Monte Carlo result represents a setback, Draper's next opportunity will likely come at the Madrid Open, which begins on April 23rd. His progress on clay courts remains a work in progress, but his recent form suggests he has the tools to eventually succeed across all surfaces.
From Court to Coast: Draper's Burberry Campaign Debut
Off the court, Draper is making an equally significant impact in the fashion world. The tennis champion has been unveiled as one of the faces of Burberry's new High Summer campaign, where he is "swapping the court for the coast" alongside supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Just Jared4.
The campaign, released on April 9, 2025, represents a significant expansion of Draper's public profile beyond sports. The British luxury fashion house's decision to feature Draper underscores his rising star power and crossover appeal, positioning him alongside established fashion industry figures like Huntington-Whiteley.
Images from the campaign show Draper bringing his natural poise and athletic elegance to the world of high fashion, reinforcing the growing trend of sports stars transcending their primary disciplines to become cultural influencers in their own right.
Balancing Two Worlds: The Modern Tennis Star
Draper's simultaneous presence in elite tennis competitions and luxury fashion campaigns illustrates the evolving nature of professional tennis. Today's top players increasingly leverage their athletic success to build broader personal brands that extend well beyond the confines of the court.
This dual career path follows in the footsteps of tennis legends like Roger Federer and Serena Williams, who successfully married their sporting excellence with fashion and business ventures. For a rising star like Draper, these early steps into fashion represent potential long-term opportunities that could extend his public profile well beyond his playing days.
The challenge for Draper now becomes one of balance—maintaining the intense focus required to continue his ascent in tennis rankings while managing the growing demands and opportunities that come with his expanding public profile.
Looking Ahead: Tennis Ambitions and Beyond
As Draper continues his clay court season, the tennis world will be watching closely to see how he addresses the inconsistencies that troubled him in Monte Carlo. With his powerful game and improving physical conditioning, the potential remains for him to make significant strides on the surface this season.
Meanwhile, his Burberry campaign marks just the beginning of what could become a significant parallel career in fashion and endorsements. As his tennis achievements continue to build his public profile, we can expect to see more such opportunities emerge for the British star.
For British tennis fans, Draper remains one of the nation's brightest hopes on the men's circuit. His ongoing development on clay courts, coupled with his established prowess on faster surfaces, suggests a future that could include deep runs at all the Grand Slam tournaments.
Whether on the clay courts of Monte Carlo or in the glossy pages of fashion campaigns, Jack Draper continues to demonstrate that he is a multifaceted talent whose influence is expanding well beyond the baseline.
This blog post was compiled using reporting from The Telegraph, BBC Sport, The Guardian, and Just Jared.
