# Jack Draper’s Heartfelt Praise for Emma Raducanu Amid French Open Campaign
Jack Draper, Britain’s No. 1 men’s tennis player, has shared glowing praise for his compatriot Emma Raducanu, describing her as “extremely bubbly, very kind, very thoughtful, always giggling, really smart. A really, really, really good girl.” The comments, made in an interview with *The Times*, highlight the close friendship between the two young stars as they navigate the pressures of the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros. Despite persistent rumors of a romantic connection, both Draper and Raducanu have firmly insisted their bond is purely platonic, rooted in mutual support and shared experiences on the grueling professional tennis circuit.
Draper, the No. 5 seed, has been a standout at the 2025 French Open, reaching the fourth round with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Gael Monfils on May 29, 2025. His performance, which included 15 aces and a crucial break in the third set, drew praise from tennis legend John McEnroe, who predicted multiple Grand Slam titles for the 23-year-old. Meanwhile, Raducanu’s tournament ended in the second round with a 6-1, 6-2 loss to four-time champion Iga Swiatek on May 28, 2025. Despite the defeat, Raducanu expressed admiration for Swiatek’s game and drew inspiration from her consistency, reflecting on their shared history as junior competitors.[
The pair’s friendship has been a source of strength, with Raducanu previously calling it “really cool” to see Draper’s rise, noting his “big stature” and ability to dominate opponents. Draper echoed this sentiment, emphasizing their mutual support: “She has always been there for me. I’ve always been there for her.” Their camaraderie stems from the shared challenges of tennis stardom, including the loneliness of constant travel. In a *Tatler* interview earlier in 2025, Draper opened up about the difficulty of maintaining relationships, saying, “I’m always on the road. Always playing, always training. It’s tough to sustain any form of relationship.” Raducanu mirrored this in a February 2024 interview with *The Times*, describing her solitary routine of “solo walks, solo coffee dates” and finding solace in reading, such as Jane Austen’s *Emma*.
Romance rumors have swirled, fueled by moments like Raducanu supporting Carlos Alcaraz at the 2024 Wimbledon final and Draper’s rumored link to American model KT Lordahl, who reportedly attended his US Open matches in 2024. Both players have dismissed such speculation, with Draper prioritizing his career over dating apps, preferring “genuine” connections. Raducanu, whose parents restricted her social life during her youth to focus on training, has also remained single, focusing on her comeback after a mixed clay season.
As Draper prepares to face Alexander Bublik in the fourth round on June 2, 2025, his words about Raducanu underscore a bond built on mutual respect and understanding. While their paths at Roland Garros diverged—Draper chasing a quarter-final berth and Raducanu shifting focus to the grass season—their friendship remains a constant in the high-pressure world of tennis. With Raducanu eyeing events at Queen’s Club and Berlin, and Draper aiming for a deep run, their support for each other continues to resonate, proving that camaraderie can shine as brightly as any title.[
