Coco Gauff’s Ex-Coach Raves About “Mad Man” Rising British Prodigy’s Growth While Voicing One Big Concern

The British No. 1, Jack Draper, is rising from the ashes of health challenges. After a disappointing walkover at the Australian Open due to a hip injury against Carlos Alcaraz, Draper took time off to recharge. He returned with renewed energy at the Qatar Open, breaking into the finals against Andrey Rublev. Although he didn’t win the title, he made a statement about his improved health. Now, in California, he’s just ousted the No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz. That left Brad Gilbert applauding his resurgence.

On Wednesday, Draper pulled off the biggest win of his season at Indian Wells, taking down former champ and World No. 4 with a 7-5, 6-4 win! He won seven straight games from 4-5 in the first set to 4-0 in the second, flipping the script entirely. His serve was on fire, winning 91% of points behind his first serve, which is simply incredible. This marked his third Top 5 win, and he’s now 3-2 against Fritz in their head-to-head.

Seeing Draper’s fiery power, Coco Gauff’s former coach took to X to praise the Briton lefty. He wrote, “Mad man Draper has improved in his movement and defense a lot very impressive for his size .” Draper’s success was all about his dominant serving and aggressive play, which allowed him to outmaneuver Fritz and secure his first quarter-final spot at Indian Wells. However, a fan couldn’t help but voice their worry, noting that it’s “just a matter of staying healthy.” To which Gilbert responded, “1000%.”

Mad man Draper has improved in his movement and defense a lot very impressive for his size

— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) March 13, 2025

Gilbert has been following Draper’s journey closely, from his early wins to his setbacks. Previously tweeting articles about Draper’s victory over Andy Murray at the 2021 Indian Wells Open and his dramatic collapse at the 2021 Miami Open. Now, with Jack Draper’s recent victory, Brad is excited to see him rise to the top.

Following his tweet, he expressed his anticipation for Draper’s upcoming match, writing, “looking forward to 1st career matchup of 6’4″ lefty’s, Mad man Draper vs Gimme Shelton both playing top 10 ball atm @BNPPARIBASOPEN @SharkoTennis.” This matchup promises to be a thrilling encounter between two powerful left-handed players.

It’s great to see him praise Jack as he overcomes his injury woes and takes the lead in this tournament. For this, the lefty credits his coach and opens up about his improvement following the match. What did he say?

Jack praises “one-of-a-kind” coach for his improvement at Indian Wells Open!

Jack Draper is on a roll, and he’s got his coach James Trotman to thank for it. After reaching his first Indian Wells quarterfinal with a thrilling win over Taylor Fritz, Draper praised Trotman as his “right-hand man” through a breakthrough year. “He’s one of a kind,” Draper said to Tennis Channel, “We have such a great relationship and a lot of respect for each other as well. It’s nice to be on the road with him and come through all these types of emotions.” They’re more than just coach and player; they’re like family.

The two started working together in late 2021, and since then, Trotman’s coaching philosophy has been instrumental in Draper’s growth. Trotman believes in understanding the player’s mindset, not just fine-tuning techniques. This approach helped Draper navigate the tough 2023 season, which was marred by injuries that sidelined him for six months. Trotman’s focus was clear: “Coming into last year, the only goal was to stay fit and healthy,” he said as per the ATP website. “We were at the point where it didn’t matter how good he could be, or was going to be, our focus was to keep him fit. It’s challenging to build up trust in your body again. It’s not something that happens instantly. This has been a long journey.”

Trotman has been instrumental in Jack’s resurgence, helping him navigate a series of injuries that once left him sidelined for six months. “It wasn’t just one injury, it was three or four on the back of each other,” Trotman recalled. “I thought that was enough, ‘What are we going to do here, Jack? Who are the people we’re going to put around you?’ That was the first objective. It’s okay to fail, but if we do, it’s not because we’re not trying.” Under Trotman’s guidance, Draper has made remarkable strides. He captured two ATP titles in 2024 and reached the US Open semifinals, rising to a career-high ranking of No. 12.

Now as he gears up to take on fellow lefty Ben Shelton on Friday, can he pull off another surprise win against Shelton? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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