Rising Hull tennis star Paul Jubb aiming to tap into Andy Murray’s well of knowledge

The 20-year-old, whose NCAA championship success paved the way for his wild-card entry into SW19 last summer, is still only in the early stages of what he hopes will develop into a journey to the top.

Becoming the first British player to win a singles title on the United States Collegiate circuit, coupled with his debut at the All England Club cast him into the spotlight, and that taste of glory across the Atlantic and his fleeting exposure to arguably the biggest stage of all has understandably whet Jubb’s appetite.

That, however, is not all it has done.

Jubb’s exploits, and the burgeoning potential which they showcased, helped secure him a place on the Lawn Tennis Association’s pro scholarship programme – the highest level of support offered to developing players by the sport’s national governing body.

In addition, it would appear that they also caught the eye of Andy Murray, a bona fide giant of the sport, who today announced that he will mentor Jubb after signing him to his 77 Sports Management agency.

Who better to guide such a hot young prospect on his quest to challenge at elite level than a three-time Grand Slam winner and double Olympic champion?

“I’m super excited,” Jubb said of his link-up with Murray.

“I can use him as a source and potentially have more court-time with him and be able to talk to him more and use his brain to try and help me on the tennis court.

“Hopefully I can have more success in the future. I have always been a person who, once I have had a sniff at something, once I have seen what it is like, I hold onto that and then I strive harder until I do get there properly.

“Obviously, it [Wimbledon] was a great experience for me, but looking back it does hurt because I was there to win, I want to win. I am not going to be happy to just play there and lose.

“I want to be back there in the future, hopefully off my own bat as well, and hopefully be able to pick up wins at Wimbledon and other Grand Slams.”

Having made such progress in a relatively short space of time last year, it should come as no surprise that Jubb has tennis’s grandest tournaments in his sights.

Ambitious though he is, the Yorkshireman is aware that he must learn to walk before he can run and needs to improve on his current world ranking of 519.

An assault on the top 100 is, he says, his first priority.

“For me it’s always been just trying to get inside that top 100,” Jubb added.

“You see a lot of people saying I want to be a Grand Slam winner and all that stuff. Yeah, for sure, definitely.

“But for me it’s just always been about getting into that top 100 and really making it my living and being able to play Grand Slams and things like that.

“And then once we get to that point, going full steam ahead. I’ve wanted tennis to be my living for such a long time. Getting to that top 100 is the really main thing for me.”

If Jubb is to realise this ambition then there is some work to be done.

Asked if he knew which areas of his game he needs to improve, he replied: “Definitely a few aspects.

“The serve can always get better. Even the best are always working on their serve. And serve has never been one of my strongest points so that’s one aspect. And I think definitely last summer and a few other experiences of playing a few weeks back to back and just making sure the body is physically strong week in, week out.

“That’s definitely going to be important for being on the tour. And then little things here and there.

“Marginal improvements can make a big difference at the highest level, so just fine-tuning things.”

For the time being, Jubb is having to bide his time, unable to do much more than work on his fitness during the lockdown.

Every cloud, as they say, has a silver lining, and the University of South Carolina student has at least been able to enjoy some time back in his hometown.

“It’s obviously frustrating. Any tennis player right now wants to be playing, but circumstances, it is what it is,” Jubb said.

“It has been good to be back home. This is the longest I have been back home since I was 16 so it is definitely weird. I am always used to being in one place a week or two and on to the next.

“It has been different but I have certainly enjoyed it. I have tried to look at it the positive way.

“I have had lots of down time, good time with the family which I haven’t had for quite a long time so it has definitely been nice but I am certainly ready to get back to work and get moving forward.”