Andy Murray and Jack Draper are back working together, and tennis fans have plenty of reason to be excited. The pair were spotted training at the William HG FitzGerald Tennis Center in Washington this week ahead of the Mubadala DC Open, with Murray watching closely from the back of the court as Draper worked through a hitting session.
The reunion comes as something of a surprise given the circumstances earlier this summer. Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion, had joined Draper's coaching setup in May following the young Brit's split from longtime coach Jamie Delgado. However, Murray was upfront about the arrangement from the start, telling The Sun that he would only commit for "a few weeks" with nothing confirmed beyond Wimbledon.
The conditions Murray placed on the partnership were practical and personal. He made clear to Draper what he "could and couldn't do," emphasizing that maintaining family life, including picking up his children from school, remained a priority. That honesty appears to have laid a solid foundation, because here they are together again in DC.
Draper himself had to sit out Wimbledon this year due to bone bruising in his left arm, a painful absence from the tournament on his home soil. The encouraging news from Washington is that he looked sharp during practice, striking the ball cleanly with that same left arm, suggesting his recovery is well on track.
Draper previously credited Murray with helping him navigate a difficult stretch dealing with injuries, which speaks to the value the younger player places on this mentorship. With the hard court season now in full swing, the duo will be looking to make a real statement.
TennisDraw users will be watching Draper's bracket closely as he makes his return to competitive action this week.
