Jack Draper splits with coach Wayne Ferreira after just four months on eve of US Open - as British No 1 seeks 'one voice' in his team
- Draper hired Ferreira to work alongside James Trotman in his team back in April
- He won his first ATP title and reached a career high ranking under the regime
- The British No 1 credited Ferreira for helping to change his mindset as a player
British No 1 Jack Draper has confirmed his split with coach Wayne Ferreira on the eve of the US Open.
Draper, the No 25 seed who takes on China's Zhang Zhizhen on Tuesday, hired the South African ‘supercoach’ to work alongside James Trotman in April.
The 22-year-old won a first ATP Tour title and reached a career-high ranking of 25 under the regime.
On Saturday he paid tribute to Ferreira for helping him become a ‘different player’. But Draper said he wanted only one voice in his corner.
‘It was time for to try and see if bringing someone else on board with a great pedigree, who can work alongside Trotts, was something that would be really beneficial for me,’ he said.
Jack Draper has confirmed his split from coach Wayne Ferreira after just four months
Draper credited Ferreira, pictured, for helping to shift his mindset after the French Open
The British No 1 won his first ATP title under Ferriera at the Stuttgart Open back in June
‘It had its pros but I just wanted that one voice in my corner because I feel like the more I'm learning, the more I'm playing on the tour, the more I'm understanding what I need to do to be that top player I want to be.’
He added: ‘I've always been someone who likes to keep things simple. I'd never had… two different voices and two different coaches.
‘I always wanted Trotts to be the one leading what I was doing. And I just felt like it was not as simple as I liked.
‘I wanted one voice in my team and I feel like it was the right thing to probably part ways with Wayne and keep it how I want it as a player.
‘That being said, my time with Wayne was amazing. I've learned a lot. I've got a lot of value from him. I think he's an amazing guy, and someone who will continue to be a friend.’
Draper credited Ferreira for helping shift his mindset at a time when he feared his immense potential would go to waste.
The split comes ahead of Draper's first round match at the US Open on Tuesday
‘After the French Open, I had a big mentality shift – thinking I'm really not going to be the player I want to be if I don't really try and change myself,’ he explained.
‘I think that was good timing with Wayne - I was ready to change, and he obviously wanted to enforce that, along with Trotts as well.
‘I'm a different player, and I'm constantly trying to be a different player, to evolve and obviously get better.’
