Left out: Jack Draper discusses the lefty edge—and isolation—at Roland Garros

PARIS — It’s tough enough being a lefty in a world designed for right-handers.

For British No. 5 seed Jack Draper, the challenge comes with a twist: while many believe being left-handed gives him a natural edge on the tennis court, it’s actually made finding practice partners surprisingly difficult.

Draper recently made headlines ahead of Roland Garros after revealing that, early in his career, fellow players often refused to hit with him during practice sessions.

“I remember being 340 in the world and I got a wild card into the Miami Open. I wrote my name down for practice, and no one wanted to hit with me. They were all just crossing out my name and putting someone else’s,” he told SkySports last week.

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That may be hard to picture now—Draper is ranked No. 5 in the world and firmly established among the ATP elite—but the problem isn’t unique to him.

Left-handed players across the tour have long shared similar experiences. At this year’s Australian Open, fellow southpaw Ben Shelton told reporters that securing a practice partner is nearly “impossible”—unless his would-be partner is about to face a lefty in the next round.

“People get very paranoid about hitting with someone who is a lefty if they’re playing a righty,” Draper explained during a pre-tournament press conference in Paris. “I do understand it. It’s probably not what you’re going to face.”

Left-handers are a minority on the ATP Tour—Draper is currently one of just 12 in the Top 100—but that’s still slightly above the estimated global average of 10 percent. And like in baseball, cricket, and fencing, tennis players who swing from the left often enjoy a strategic advantage.

Lefty forehands naturally target opponents’ backhands, typically the weaker side at the pro level. Their serves, especially out wide, can create angles and spin patterns that right-handers rarely face. Even other lefties admit to struggling against their own.

Interestingly, despite playing left-handed, Draper isn’t a natural lefty at all.

“My biggest strength is probably the fact that I am naturally right-handed,” the 23-year-old said. “My backhand is a shot which I’ve always been really confident on. So when right-handers go into my backhand, as well, it feels like a great shot for me.

“I think I’ve got kind of the best of both worlds almost. I always say people say it’s an advantage. Still trying to figure one out, I suppose.”

My biggest strength is probably the fact that I am naturally right-handed... I think I’ve got kind of the best of both worlds.

Draper likely isn’t short on practice opportunities anymore. He’s enjoying a career-best ranking, has three ATP titles to his name—including his first Masters 1000 win at Indian Wells—and a standout clay season that included a runner-up finish in Madrid and a semifinal appearance in Rome.

And at tournaments like Roland Garros, there’s always a pool of hitting partners available if needed.

“I don’t care who I hit with. If I’m getting that ball in front of me, I’m able to hit, get in the groove, it doesn’t really matter,” he said. “Maybe that’s just the mentality I’ve grown up with the fact that not many people want to hit with lefties before tournaments and stuff.

“But yeah, whoever is playing (Ben) Shelton or (Denis) Shapovalov or someone like that, I know they’ll be asking me for practice. I’m all good.”

Fittingly, Draper is set to face another lefty—world No. 68 Mattia Bellucci—in the first round at Roland Garros.

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