Jack Draper feels inspired to chase down leading players Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz following their French Open final.
Alcaraz came from two sets down and saved three championship points against the Italian en route to winning back-to-back titles at Roland Garros.
Sinner remains as world number one despite the defeat to Alcaraz, holding the rank for 54 consecutive weeks now. Since the ATP Rankings were first published in 1973, only three players have had a longer first stint at the top than the Italian.
Draper says he gained motivation from the thrilling encounter between the pair and hopes to reach their level soon.
"I think it inspired all the players,"Â said Draper about the French Open final.
"And I think it captured the attention of all the spectators, all the people around the world, even people who aren't into tennis. It was one of those sporting moments, I think everyone was embraced by, so I think Jannik and Carlos did an unbelievable show there.
"Those two guys are really setting the way, and I'm looking forward to chasing them down.
"I don't know what I'm capable of yet, but I aspire to be at that level. What those guys are doing is setting the way, and it's changing the game. Players like myself are going to be working very hard to get to that point, that's for sure."
Draper is now focused on the grass-court season as he prepares for Queen's. He is the number two seed in the tournament, behind Alcaraz.
The 23-year-old beat Sinner in the same competition four years ago to earn his first tour-level match win.
"I'm very proud to be here, to be the No. 2 seed,"Â Draper added.
"I've come a long way since I played Jannik here in 2021, and I'm really proud of the position I'm in and how my tennis is improving.Â
"I think there's no secret I'd love to do amazingly well this week, but Wimbledon would be a priority for me. I think it's always an interesting one, that first match or tournament on the grass. There's a lot of players who maybe aren't amazingly prepared.Â
"We've just come from a surface where we're grinding out points, having to win the point seven times on the trot to get one point. So, coming onto a fast surface, the margins are small, but I'm feeling good, and I'm ready to compete as hard as possible.Â
"It's a home tournament for me as well, so that's an added motivation for me to do well here as well."
Draper faces Jenson Brooksby in his first match at Queen's on June 17.
