For Jack Draper, Christmas came a week earlier, thanks to a monstrous paycheck amounting to $546,800 for three days' work at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in London.
Billed as the Grand Final, the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS Tour) culminated with the showpiece event after the conclusion of the two global events held during the year in Los Angeles and Frankfurt (the UTS event in Seoul was canceled and postponed to 2024).
Draper entered the tournament as a wild card in his home country and powered to the title on his debut appearance with his dazzling array of power tennis and finesse. The 21-year-old southpaw defeated World No. 8 Holger "The Viking" Rune 12-14, 15-12, 13-10, 19-7.
Draper, who edged Casper Ruud narrowly in the semis, was already guaranteed his largest payday on a match court regardless of the outcome ($266,400). But with the win over the Norwegian, he steamed confidently into Sunday's final, with the chance to remain undefeated in the competition.
The man from Sutton duly delivered last Sunday, winning three eight-minute quarters to one. Putting Draper's paycheck in comparison to his ATP's yearly prize money in 2023, it is easy to see why he had no qualms in disrupting his offseason training to accept a wild card.
The Briton had earned $737,907 on tour across all levels between January and November. By winning the UTS Grand Final, he collected $546,800, which should send him on a colossal spending spree for his upcoming 22nd birthday in a few days' time.
It is pertinent to note the previous highest paycheck that he received was at this year's US Open when he reached the fourth round. He made $265,000.
Draper has already set sights on breaking the world's Top 20 next season, and beaten finalist Holger Rune is tipping him to reach even bigger heights, calling him a player with "huge potential."
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