Britain's brightest tennis talents, Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper, enter Wimbledon as the nation's top-ranked players in their respective categories.
The pair have demonstrated promising form in recent weeks, though both have encountered difficulties when facing elite competition.
Their challenges were evident at recent tournaments, where Raducanu fell to Iga Swiatek at the French Open whilst Draper was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz at the Italian Open.
There's no shame in these losses - Swiatek, known as 'the Queen of clay', reached the final before losing to Coco Gauff.
Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper have had tough paths in tennis but both have their backs
ReutersMeanwhile at Roland Garros, Alcaraz went on to claim the title after a gruelling five-and-a-half-hour battle against world number one Jannik Sinner, as well as beating him on his home patch in the Italian Open final.
Despite these setbacks, the two young British stars remain close allies as they prepare for the Championships at SW19.
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Their friendship has deep roots, having trained together at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton from a young age.
Born less than a year apart, Raducanu and Draper competed in many of the same junior tournaments throughout their development.
The pair's shared experiences include prestigious events such as the Orange Bowls in Miami and the Eddie Herr Invitationals in Bradenton.
Their parallel journeys through British tennis have naturally fostered a strong bond between them.
Draper has spoken warmly about their relationship, telling The Times: "She has always been there for me. I've always been there for her.
"She's extremely bubbly, very kind, very thoughtful, always giggling, really smart. A really, really, really good girl."
Draper has revealed that Raducanu's historic 2021 US Open triumph served as powerful motivation for his own career.
"What Emma did was obviously incredibly inspiring," he told reporters after his own impressive run to the US Open final last year.
"I've known her from a young age, and to see what she did was incredible. I was very proud of her, very excited."
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Jack Draper's clay season was largely promising but he must now prepare for Wimbledon
ReutersThe 23-year-old acknowledged that whilst they had witnessed Andy Murray's Grand Slam success, Raducanu's victory felt particularly special.
"Obviously, we've watched the likes of Andy Murray winning a Grand Slam from Great Britain, but her winning, it was just really a fairy-tale run," he said.
"I definitely think as a competitor, it fuelled my fire. I really wanted to achieve what she'd done, winning a Grand Slam."
Raducanu has been equally supportive of her compatriot, describing Draper as "very driven" and "hard-working" in a joint interview with The Times.
She praised his performance at Queen's Club, noting: "He had an unbelievable week at Queen's which showed how good his level really is."
"I know he's hard-working, he's always in the National Tennis Centre at Roehampton for long days. He's got a big game that can knock the racket out of the opponent's hands," she added.
Emma Raducanu has looked in fine form at Queen'sReutersWhen Martina Navratilova criticised Raducanu following her first-round exit at the 2024 US Open, Draper defended his friend.
"There's no doubt it was extremely difficult for Emma, because she's done her A Levels and she'd just come out of school," he said, urging people to allow her to continue her journey without undue pressure.
Their enduring friendship represents more than personal camaraderie - it embodies the future of British tennis.
As they prepare for Wimbledon, both players will undoubtedly draw strength from their mutual support system.
Despite speculation about their relationship, reports indicate they remain close friends rather than romantic partners.
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"It's amazing to see what he's achieved" 🇬🇧
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) May 5, 2025
Emma Raducanu praises fellow Brit Jack Draper for his rise to number five in the world 📈 pic.twitter.com/RlvxchIcIk
Raducanu reportedly ended her relationship with Carlo Agostinelli in summer 2024, whilst Draper is thought to be single.
The British number ones have forged a bond through shared experiences at Roehampton and international tournaments.
Their parallel journeys from junior tennis to the sport's biggest stages have created a unique understanding between them.
As Britain's leading tennis talents head into the Championships, their friendship serves as a testament to the collaborative spirit fostering success at the National Tennis Centre.
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