British men’s number one Jack Draper says he can cope with the responsibility of leading the home nation’s hopes at the first Wimbledon since Sir Andy Murray retired.
Draper, who is ranked fourth in the world, has emerged as a genuine Wimbledon contender following a stunning rise over the past 12 months.
The left-handed Englishman will be the fourth seed when the grass-court Grand Slam begins on Monday.
No home player has been seeded as high at the All England Club since world number one and defending champion Murray in 2017.
“When Andy retired, they said I was the next in line,” said Draper, who starts against Argentina’s Sebastian Baez and must navigate a tough-looking path to the latter stages.
“I’ll keep trying to do my best to keep try and improving, to show my best tennis out there, to hopefully present myself as the player and the person I want to be.
“Andy has done an unbelievable job of that, has been incredibly successful and has become adored by the nation.
“It’s obviously big shoes to fill. I’m aware of that. At the same time I’m confident in myself that hopefully I can inspire people like Andy has done.”
Draper leads a total of 23 British players in the men’s and women’s singles draws – the highest number since 1984.
Seven of the British contingent have qualified directly through their world rankings, with 15 handed wildcards by organisers, while United States-based college student Oliver Tarvet has come through the qualifying tournament.