Jack Draper heavily abused over appearance change at Wimbledon

Jack Draper has shaved his legs to smooth his way to Wimbledon glory. And the Burberry fashion model said the only thing he wants to lose are the highlights in his hair as he promised: "One thing you will see with me over the years is a lot of different hairstyles".

The British No.1 revealed he suffered "abuse from pretty much everyone" after winning his opening match at SW19 with facial stubble.

Yet Draper's legs were razor-sharp after his only close shave of his home Grand Slam so far.

The No.4 seed said: "A lot of a lot of athletes do it because of the band work we do. I'm fed up of getting in-grows and getting slapped with a band - and it sort of hurts a lot. I get rid of it. When I'm putting the bands around my leg, with hair and stuff, it pulls on your hair and it rips off. And the massages as well. In-growing hairs. It's not ideal, but if I am going to be in less pain than it's worth it."

Draper, who will face former finalist Marin Cilic in the second round on Wednesday, caused a buzz on social media earlier this season by revealing new highlights in his floppy hair.

"I'm not going to get it cut," he said. "I'm probably going to get rid of the highlights at some point. But one thing you will see with me over the years is a lot of different hairstyles, a lot of different a lot of different things. Because I'm very experimental with that sort of stuff. Do I get bored? Yeah. There will be a lot of different things. My brother (and agent Ben) doesn't like it but there will be a lot."

The British No.1, who won the biggest title of his career at the Indian Wells Masters in March, also revealed he is coping with his new-found fame by getting off social media.

"Anything that comes from my social media always comes from me," he said. "If you're going to do socials, then it is important to portray who you are and your personality. But for me, I don't do the socials. I don't go on it. I think it's something that is really draining, especially as a professional athlete.

"I think it has obviously so many positives, but also at the same time is very draining. And so I think I made decision a couple months ago that I was going to get away from it all, and I was going to focus on the important things in my life. Which is my tennis, my relationships with people, the important things."

Cilic, now 36, won the 2014 US Open and lost to Roger Federer in the 2017 Wimbledon final after the Croat suffered from blisters.

"I don't remember the match," said Draper, 23. "I've obviously watched Cilic play over the years many, many times. I watched him play many incredible matches against Andy. I think one in the US Open, the year he won it. Maybe in the quarter finals. I've obviously got a lot of respect for him.

"He's someone who's an experienced player, obviously been someone who's been top-10 for years and years and years. An ultimate professional whenever I've seen him around, even though I think he's 36 years old now. Similar to Andy. Like he ticks every single box and he'll be wanting to come back up the rankings. I think he had a knee operation or something. It's definitely a match where I'm going to have to be on it from the first ball."

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