British tennis player Jack Draper has announced his withdrawal from Wimbledon just one day before his scheduled first-round match. Draper cited a recurrence of a long-term arm injury as the reason for his decision, expressing his devastation at missing the tournament.
His withdrawal means he will not face American sixth seed Taylor Fritz on Centre Court as planned. This marks another significant setback for Draper, whose career has been frequently interrupted by various physical issues.
Injury struggles continue
Draper’s arm problem, specifically bone bruising in his serving arm, has been a persistent issue for over a year. He had recently returned to competitive play at Eastbourne, reaching the semi-finals after a period of absence. However, the injury has resurfaced, preventing him from competing in a third consecutive Grand Slam tournament.
The 24-year-old, who was once ranked as high as world number four, has played only 15 matches in the past 12 months. His initial comeback earlier in the season was also hampered by tendinitis in his knee. Draper had not played for over two months before his return at Eastbourne.
Draper’s arm injury first emerged during the 2025 clay-court season and affected his performance at Wimbledon last year, where he lost to Marin Cilic. After winning one match at the US Open in August, he withdrew from the tournament, ending his season early.
He made his return to the ATP Tour in February, reaching the quarter-finals at Indian Wells in March, a tournament he had previously won and where he defeated Novak Djokovic. However, he retired from his only clay-court match in Barcelona in April.
Following this, Draper skipped the remainder of the clay season and withdrew from Queen’s, stating he needed more time for recovery before returning at Eastbourne. Despite practising at Wimbledon over the weekend, he did not take to the court on Monday before confirming his withdrawal.
This news follows another injury blow for British tennis, as Emma Raducanu also withdrew from Wimbledon on Sunday due to a stress fracture in her right leg.
Impact and future outlook
Draper’s injury struggles have prevented him from building on his potential, particularly after a breakthrough period in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. His run to the US Open semi-finals two years ago and his victory at Indian Wells had propelled him into the world’s top five, showcasing his ability to challenge top players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
He recently brought former world number one Andy Murray into his coaching team for the grass-court season, with both hoping for a long-term partnership. Murray had previously stated that the immediate goal was to get Draper playing more consistently.
Draper has voiced concerns about the increasing number of injuries among leading players, particularly younger athletes. He highlighted that many injuries, including those affecting the shoulder, arm, and wrist, are prevalent across the men’s tour.
He suggested that the demanding schedule, including Masters 1000 events, might be contributing to these issues. Draper believes that without changes, tournaments could suffer significantly.
Despite the current setback, Draper remains determined. He acknowledged the mental toll of repeated comebacks but stated his commitment to rebuilding and starting again.
Draper’s current ranking stands at 131st, a considerable drop from his previous career high. He has not participated in a major tournament since the US Open in August.
His withdrawal from Wimbledon is a significant disappointment, especially given the anticipation surrounding his partnership with Andy Murray for the grass-court season.
Draper’s immediate focus will now be on recovery, hoping to return to the court and continue his career.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
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Charlie Bradshaw is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with ten years of reporting experience. He covered Merseyside football before going national. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Liverpool John Moores University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Liverpool, he watches non-league sides and collects old match programmes. “The back page is only ever half the story.”