After what was initially thought to be a minor hiccup, it has now turned into a full-blown catastrophe, as Jack Draper has been forced to pull the plug on his clay swing this year.
The former British No. 1, who reached the final in Madrid last year as part of his improving results on clay, will not feature on the surface at all, as injuries continue to derail his career.
From Breakthrough to Setback
Just a year ago, everything seemed to be going to plan for Draper. He not only cracked the Top 5 in the rankings but also secured his first big title at Indian Wells to kick off the 2025 season.
However, after a promising first half of the year, Draper suffered a setback in the form of a left arm injury. The issue forced him to miss much of the second half of 2025, ultimately ending his season during the US Open. At the time, that decision was made to ensure he would be fully fit heading into 2026. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. Rehabilitation from the arm injury caused Draper to miss the Australian Open, immediately putting him on the back foot this season.
Although he returned with an impressive win over Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells, an early exit in Miami halted any momentum he had built. It was soon revealed that Draper would also miss the start of the clay swing due to a knee tendon issue. While there was initial hope of a return in Rome, those plans have now been scrapped entirely.
Draper Confirms French Open Withdrawal
Draper confirmed that he will not compete at Roland Garros, stating:
“My knee is on the mend and I’ve started back hitting balls but unfortunately I have been advised not to play Roland Garros. As gutting as it is to miss another slam, the advice is not to rush straight back into playing five set tennis on clay. Off the back of the arm injury I sustained last year, I’ve been restricted with my training and by giving myself the time to heal and build, I can be the player I want to be out there once again. See you soon!”
This marks the third consecutive Major Draper has been forced to miss or withdraw from due to injury, having retired mid-tournament at the US Open last year and withdrawn ahead of the Australian Open earlier this season. While the decision has clearly been made with his long-term future in mind, the consequences are significant. Draper is now set to fall outside the Top 100 of the rankings following what has been an injury-plagued 10 months.
All hopes will now rest on a return during the grass-court season, where home tournaments could offer him the perfect platform to rebuild confidence and rediscover form. If he can stay fit, Draper still has the potential to recapture the level that made him one of the highly ranked players on Tour at the start of 2025.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
