LONDON — Tennis legend John McEnroe has taken responsibility for hyping up British hopeful Jack Draper ahead of his shock second-round exit at Wimbledon, admitting he may have put undue pressure on the young star. The seven-time Grand Slam champion, now a prominent BBC pundit, found himself red-faced after Draper's disappointing performance against Cameron Norrie.
McEnroe had boldly predicted Draper could make a deep run at this year's Championships, telling viewers: "This kid's got everything - big serve, explosive groundstrokes, and the mentality to go far. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the second week." Those words came back to haunt the American as Draper slumped to a 6-7(3), 6-3, 2-6, 6-7(6) defeat against his more experienced compatriot.
McEnroe's Mea Culpa
Speaking on BBC's Wimbledon coverage, McEnroe didn't shy away from self-criticism: "I'll hold my hands up here - maybe I got ahead of myself with Jack. The kid's got tremendous potential, but I might have added to the weight of expectation. That's on me." The 64-year-old acknowledged that Draper, ranked 38th in the world, is still developing the consistency needed to compete at the highest level.
The match statistics made grim reading for Draper supporters:
- 43 unforced errors to Norrie's 28
- Just 58% of first serves in play
- Converted only 2 of 7 break point opportunities
Draper's Disappointing Display
The 21-year-old left-hander showed flashes of brilliance but struggled with his rhythm throughout the match. McEnroe pointed to several key issues:
- Poor decision-making on crucial points
- Lack of variety in his game plan
- Visible frustration affecting his concentration
Former British No. 1 Tim Henman, commentating alongside McEnroe, noted: "Jack's still learning how to manage these big moments. He's got all the weapons, but today we saw that mental toughness and match management are works in progress."
The Pressure of Home Expectations
Draper's exit continues a worrying trend for British players at Wimbledon. Since Andy Murray's 2016 title, no homegrown male player has reached the quarterfinals. McEnroe highlighted the unique challenges: "Playing at Wimbledon as a Brit is different. The crowd wants it so badly for you, and that can be overwhelming when you're still finding your feet on tour."
The young Brit appeared to acknowledge this in his post-match press conference: "I wanted to do well here so much. Maybe I tried too hard. Cam handled the occasion better - that's something I need to learn from."
Looking Ahead
Despite the setback, McEnroe remains bullish about Draper's long-term prospects: "This isn't the end of the story. Jack's got too much talent not to break through. He just needs time, matches, and maybe a little less hype from guys like me."
Draper's immediate focus will shift to the North American hardcourt swing, where he reached the semifinals in Washington last year. His coach, James Trotman, emphasized the need for perspective: "Jack's 21 and already top 40. We're building his game for the long term - days like today are part of that process."
Pundit Fallout
The incident has sparked debate about the influence of pre-tournament predictions. Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli observed: "When legends like John speak, young players listen. There's a responsibility in how we frame expectations for emerging talents."
McEnroe, for his part, has promised to be more measured in future assessments: "I still believe in Jack's potential, but I'll let his racket do the talking next time. The kid's got enough pressure without me adding to it."
As for Draper, he left Wimbledon with mixed emotions but determination: "This hurts, but it's fuel. I'll be back stronger. I know what I need to work on, and I'm ready to put in the work." With the US Open just two months away, the young Brit will have another chance to prove McEnroe's original assessment right - just not quite as soon as the American legend had predicted.