Jack Draper will not return this season

Former world number four Jack Draper decided not to play again this season, stating his aim to return to the tour at the start of next year. The 24-year-old athlete has suffered from bone bruising in his serving arm and has only participated in nine events since last year’s Wimbledon. Draper missed the US Open after being eliminated in the first round at Montreal and Cincinnati last month, with the emotional aftermath of his defeat to France’s Terence Atmane in Canada causing him to break down in tears.

In a post on Instagram, Draper shared, "I am taking this time to reset and heal so when I return I am 100% ready to go. Tennis is my purpose and passion and so when I step back on court I want to make sure that there’s nothing holding me back from where I want to go."

If he does return in January, Draper will not qualify for a protected ranking, as only players sidelined for over six months can retain their previous ranking upon rejoining the tour. Currently, Draper stands at a world ranking of 155, which means he would need wildcards or have to qualify for participation in Grand Slams and ATP Tour events. However, he expressed that none of this would concern him if he can return to playing without severe pain.

Draper's peak came last June when he achieved the world number four ranking after winning a Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells and finishing as the runner-up in Madrid. He reflected, "Last summer, all the dedication and work I had put into this sport was coming together. It was all going my way and the path seemed so clear. However, a complicated injury made things incredibly challenging, and since that moment I’ve been desperately trying to get back to feeling as I once did on the court. Managing so much change, adversity, and pain has helped me grow massively in many areas of my life but has also made me feel a level of fatigue."

Recently, Draper took a holiday with friends to assist in his recovery by mentally distancing himself from the sport. He is expected to gradually return to training in the next few weeks while his team aims to identify the root causes of the injury. For his comeback, Draper has already made some adjustments, including switching from polyester strings to natural gut strings and opting for a lighter racquet, among other modifications to alleviate strain on his arm.

Andy Murray remains part of Draper’s coaching team but will travel for a limited time, indicating that further assistance will be required. Over the summer, Draper received significant support from LTA coaches James Trotman and Alex Lisiecki. Once he returns to the tour, finding a permanent coach to work alongside Murray will be essential. His scheduling decisions will be made with caution, not only because the bone bruising might not have fully healed by January but also due to concerns regarding the physical toll modern tennis exacts on players.