Britain's are largely pinned on and Emma Raducanu - and it appears the duo have each other's backs after developing a close bond over the years.

The pair have caused a storm in the tennis world over the last few majors thanks to Raducanu's stunning win at in 2021 and march to the semi-final of the same tournament in 2024. The two young stars are often at the forefront of the news in the UK every time they enter a tournament, however it's clear that the pair think highly of one another and are on hand to support the other when the going gets tough.

Rumours of a romantic entanglement between the two players naturally followed with Draper and both feeling the heat of intense fame at a young age, as well as frequently being on the same scene in the tennis world, however it's believed the two are just firm friends. In a recent interview, the 23-year-old Draper admitted that his compatriot has always been on hand to help him when he needs picking up and was effusive in his praise for the 22-year-old.

"She has always been there for me," Draper said to The Times. "I've always been there for her. She's extremely bubbly, very kind, very thoughtful, always giggling, really smart. A really, really, really good girl."

Born less than a year apart, Draper and Raducanu have known one another for a significant period of time and so it appears they've learnt much from each other. Draper's stunning run to the final at Flushing Meadows back in August 2024, was in part inspired by Raducanu, according to the man himself.

While he eventually lost out in the final to world no.1 , Draper was hoping to emulate Raducanu's success in the New York based competition. After beating Alex de Minaur in the quarter-final, the young Brit claimed that watching his friend triumph in the same tournament had "fuelled" a fire within him.

"What Emma did was obviously incredibly inspiring," he told reporters. "I've known her from a young age, and to see what she did was incredible.

"I was very proud of her, very excited. Obviously, we've watched the likes of winning a Grand Slam from Great Britain, but her winning, it was just really a fairy-tale run.

"I definitely think as a competitor, it fueled my fire. I really wanted to achieve what she'd done, winning a Grand Slam. At the same time I do understand that the men's and the women's, it is different. We're playing five sets. It's a different physical challenge and all these types of things. [But] I learned a lot from watching Emma win, that run, and how amazing she was."

The pair's apparent close bond was also in the spotlight again after Draper came to Raducanu's defence after the 22-year-old came under fire from tennis legend Martina Navratilova. Navratilova singled the British star out for criticism and questioned her work ethic after she was beaten in the first round at the US Open in 2024.

Navratilova claimed that Raducanu "needs more matchplay," and added: "I still don't think she is as fit as she should be."

Draper argued that Raducanu had been the subject of unfair expectation since her fairytale Slam win at just 18. "I think it's important that people give her time to be on her journey and to improve physically and to put years of working to get back to that point," he said.

"There's no doubt it was extremely difficult for Emma, because she'd done her A Levels and she'd just come out of . All of a sudden she came here and she had a dream run and won. I think the expectation on her after that was huge."

Draper was on hand once again to lend his backing to his compatriot, during an interview with in July 2024 where he hailed her abilities, describing her as "a real special talent". While rumours of a romance between Draper and Raducanu flatlined, the U.S Open winner has been linked with Spanish superstar .

Speculation was fuelled after a series of likes on her page by the two-time winner while Raducanu watched him in action at the All England Club final last year.

When probed about the rumours earlier this year, and Raducanu's attendance at SW19, Alcaraz remained evasive. "I don't know [if she came to see me in particular]," the 21-year-old said. "I don't know. I think a lot of people have come to see the final.

"She's from here [the UK], I imagine she would like to come and see it. I don't know if she's come to see the final, if she's come to see me. Who knows? I'll have to ask her, but I hope she enjoyed the final."

Raducanu will now play her first match at the 2025 on Tuesday as she locks horns with 26th-seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. The British tennis star is unseeded in Melbourne but will be hoping to better her personal record at the open after she reached the second round on three occasions.

Meanwhile Draper displayed some of his now famous determination as he turned it around against Argentina's Mariano Navone to claim a place in the second round with a hard-fought 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win in Melbourne.