Tommy Paul and Jack Draper Served Looks at Burberry’s US Open Dinner
The US Open officially kicked off earlier this week with a newly revamped—and reinvigorated—mixed doubles tournament, ahead of the singles draw. Hundreds of thousands of fans have flocked to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens to see the sport’s biggest names—Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka—compete in teams at a Grand Slam.
Jack Draper, the world’s No. 5 and Britain’s top men’s player, was in the thick of it. Paired with American Jessica Pegula, the world’s No. 4, he notched early thrills with wins over Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu in the first round, then Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva in the second, before the pair bowed out to Casper Ruud and Iga Świątek in the semifinals on Wednesday night.
Less than 24 hours later, Draper swapped match points for martinis, joining Burberry to host an intimate dinner at downtown Manhattan’s The Corner Store to toast the start of the Open. Co-hosting with him: American star Tommy Paul, world No. 14.
“I feel on top of the world when I wear Burberry,” Draper—an ambassador for the house—told Vogue during cocktails. “I feel like I’m walking on a cloud. The materials are so solid and I love the patterns and what the brand is about. I believe in it, and it’s good to be a part of it.”
Draper arrived in full Burberry: a black Harrington jacket and trousers with Burberry Check Terrace sneakers. His fashion motto? “Owning your own style,” he said. “Just be yourself and be true to who you are, not caring what others think. Whether it’s business, sports, or life, if you believe in what you believe, you’ll look good in whatever you wear.”
The 36 guests—including Draper’s brother, Ben, and coach, James Trotman, plus Paul’s fiancée, Paige Lorenze, and his coach, Brad Stine—gathered in the restaurant’s dimly lit private dining room at two long tables dressed with white roses and long-stemmed lilies. At each place setting sat a tall green box; inside were white tennis balls monogrammed with Burberry’s Equestrian Knight Design for guests to take home.
Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open women’s singles champion, was among the first to arrive, mingling at the bar as servers passed tomato martinis and small bites—Wagyu French dips, vegan ratatouille, and lobster rolls crowned with caviar. She soon linked up with Paul. “I’m not somebody who’s always super dressed up because of how much I’m playing,” Paul—wearing a Puddle Beige Burberry corduroy jacket and trousers—told Vogue. “But when I have the opportunity to put on some amazing clothes like tonight, I feel amazing, confident, and stylish.”
As the family-style feast—pizza rolls, oysters, Dover sole, and steak frites—began, Laura Dubin-Wander, Burberry’s President of the Americas, welcomed the room with a toast, noting the house’s long history with tennis and wishing Draper and Paul luck as they head into the men’s singles draw in the coming days. Paul also shared the one routine he won’t mess with before a tournament. “I pack the same number of tennis clothes every time. I have eight match shirts and six shorts—every time,” he said with a laugh. “I’m a little superstitious. It’s the perfect number for me.”
Draper’s pre-match ritual skews more zen. “I like candles and some incense. It helps me get in my own headspace,” he said. “Over time, I’ve learned to switch off the noise. As things get busier and life gets crazier, all you want is your own space. When I’m in that space, I try to detach and be present. Candles and incense help my mood.”
Dessert was apple hand pies and The Corner Store’s famed Samoa Sundae—coconut soft serve with chocolate fudge and caramel. Near 11 p.m., Draper and his crew were among the last to slip out, Stephens calling after him with a final good luck for the Open.
Sansho Scott/BFA.com1/12Anna Van Patten, Calum Harper
Sansho Scott/BFA.com2/12Owen Thiele, Amber Mark