British number 1 Jack Draper has parted ways with “super coach” Wayne Ferreira after four months. Telegraph Sports understands this and will again only work with his former mentor James Trotman.
Ferreira and Trotman have formed a successful duo since the South African – a former world number six known for eliminating big names during his playing career – joined Draper’s team in late April.
During this time, Draper beat Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s, won his first ATP title in Stuttgart and climbed more than 20 places in the rankings to his current position – a new career high – of No. 25.
However, it is never easy to reconcile two different viewpoints in the backroom and the coaching partnership has now been dissolved.
Ferreira wanted Draper to reinvent himself as a more daring player, regularly moving forward to score points at the net. This position was hardly controversial, as it was obvious to all that Draper had previously played too many long and laborious baseline points where he did not take advantage of his size and power.
Inevitably, the rebuild brought teething issues and moments when Trotman had to reinforce some of the core principles that had already made Draper a top-50 player.
In another matter, Draper – who is due to open his US Open campaign against China’s Zhang Zhizhen on Monday or Tuesday – has been the subject of considerable criticism over a controversial decision in his victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Cincinnati Masters last week.
On match point, Draper appeared to hit a half-volley into the ground before the ball bounced, clipped the net cord and then sank into the opponent’s side of the court. After a lengthy protest from Auger-Aliassime, Draper offered to replay the point, but referee Greg Allensworth awarded him the match anyway.
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