Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion and British No. 1, has shared heartfelt insights into her longstanding friendship with Jack Draper, the British men’s No. 1, as they prepare for the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. In an interview with *The Guardian* on Battlefield, Raducanu reflected on their parallel journeys, stating, “I’ve known him for so long, so many years, and when we were juniors, we were both pretty promising, and now to kind of be British No. 1 on both men’s and women’s side… it’s pretty cool.” Their bond, forged through years of training at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton and competing in junior tournaments, has been a source of mutual support, with Raducanu noting the healthy competition that drives them. “You see them win their match, so you want to win your match… you don’t want to be the one left behind,” she said, emphasizing the positive dynamic that fuels their ambition.
The pair, born less than a year apart—Raducanu at 22 and Draper at 23—have faced intense scrutiny, with fans speculating about a potential romance due to their close relationship. However, both have consistently clarified that their connection is platonic. Draper, in a January 2025 interview with *The Times*, described Raducanu as “extremely bubbly, very kind, very thoughtful, always giggling, really smart,” adding, “She has always been there for me. I’ve always been there for her.” Raducanu echoed this sentiment, praising Draper’s rise to world No. 4 after his Indian Wells title in March 2025, saying, “It’s amazing to see what he’s achieved… he’s got a big game that can knock the racket out of the opponent’s hands.” Their mutual admiration was further highlighted when Draper credited Raducanu’s 2021 US Open triumph as “incredibly inspiring” for his own Grand Slam ambitions, per *Wales Online*.[](https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/740980/inside-emma-raducanu-jack-draper-close-bond/)[](https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/tennis/jack-draper-emma-raducanu-relationship-30770929)
Despite their closeness, romantic rumors have been dispelled, with Draper focusing on his career over relationships, telling *Tatler* in 2025, “The most important thing to me right now is becoming the best tennis player I can be.” Raducanu, who split from Carlo Agostinelli in summer 2024 and was recently linked to Benjamin Heynold, also prioritizes tennis, shaped by her parents’ strict no-dating stance during her youth, as she told *The Times*. At Wimbledon, Raducanu faces wildcard Mingge Xu in the first round on June 30, 2025, while Draper, seeded No. 4, takes on Sebastian Baez, with a potential Novak Djokovic quarter-final looming. Their shared history and support system, as Raducanu noted, alleviate the pressure of being Britain’s top hopes, making their “pretty cool” partnership a highlight of Wimbledon 2025.[]
