Jack Draper has announced his withdrawal from this year's French Open due to ongoing issues with a knee tendon, which forced him to retire during a match in Barcelona earlier this month. The former British No. 1 believes attempting the Grand Slam's five-set format on clay could hinder his recovery, and he is instead targeting a return at the start of the grass court season, either in Stuttgart or at London's Queen's Club.
Draper shared a poignant note on social media, expressing that he is 'gutted' to miss his second major of the year. 'My knee is on the mend and I've started back hitting balls but unfortunately I have been advised not to play Roland Garros,' he wrote. '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!'
After claiming his first Masters title at Indian Wells last season and rising to a career-high ranking of world No. 4, Draper's meteoric rise has been hampered by injury. Last September, the 24-year-old had to withdraw ahead of his US Open second-round match against Zizou Bergs due to a bruised bone on his serving arm, ending his season prematurely. Following six months on the sidelines, Draper returned to action in Dubai this February but has played just eight matches—including one walkover—on tour since.
In an earlier statement confirming his withdrawal from Barcelona, Draper vowed to 'work his way out' of this difficult moment, which has tested his positivity. Persistent injuries feel all the more frustrating given his prodigious talent, which has seen him discussed as a credible threat to the sport's young stars, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Former world No. 3 Juan Martin del Potro, whose own career was diminished by injury, lamented Draper's physical misfortunes. 'Well, as a lefty player, he has an advantage over the rest of the players,' Del Potro told Sky Sports last week. 'Draper is a talented player as well, but sometimes the body could be the worst thing in your career.'
Draper's withdrawal comes amid a similarly challenging period for compatriot Emma Raducanu, who has not played since last month's Miami Open. Although the 2021 US Open champion has not formally confirmed her withdrawal from Roland Garros, Raducanu is yet to play on clay this season as she continues to recover from a viral illness diagnosed in February.
