Jack Draper has opened up about an 'incredibly difficult' year after spending nearly 10 months sidelined by arm and knee injuries, as he prepares to make his comeback at the Eastbourne Open with childhood hero Andy Murray as his new coach.
The British star, who was ranked a career-high No. 4 a year ago after winning Indian Wells, has plummeted to No. 113. Speaking in Eastbourne on the eve of his first match against Brandon Nakashima, Draper recalled the low point in April at the Barcelona Open, where he retired mid-match due to knee tendonitis. 'I couldn't be the player I wanted to be out there, like I was sort of 30 per cent of what I can do. It was a tough period,' he said.
Injury Woes and Ranking Decline
Draper's troubles began at the 2025 Madrid Open, where arm pain emerged during his runner-up finish. Scans after Wimbledon revealed bone bruising in his left arm, forcing seven weeks off. He returned at the US Open but withdrew after one singles match, ending his season. This year, he played through knee tendonitis until it became too severe in Barcelona. 'I probably played through it for a few months until it sort of got really reactive,' Draper explained. 'You're losing your ranking every week, you're just watching yourself decline.'
The 24-year-old, now British No. 3, has also battled abdominal and shoulder issues earlier in his career. He admitted fearing he might never regain his previous form, when he reached the US Open semi-finals, won three titles, and cracked the top five. 'I think [I thought I would] potentially never be the same, but never not come back to playing,' he said.
Mental Toll and Support System
Draper described the mental strain of his long layoff. 'It's been an incredibly difficult year,' he said. 'I'm someone who's all in with my tennis. Outside of tennis, there's not a lot going on for me. So it's obviously been very difficult, very isolated, lot of tough days.' He credited his small support circle—his mum, brother, and coaches—for keeping him on track. 'I've definitely lost some brain cells, for sure, like lost my mind in many ways,' he added. 'But I think I'm lucky I've got people who really support me.'
Despite the setbacks, Draper believes the experience has made him mentally stronger. 'When you go through a lot of struggles, and when you go through a lot of setbacks, it definitely gives you the mental fortitude to think I've got something a little bit extra to these guys because of what I've gone through,' he said.
Comeback with Andy Murray
Draper's new coaching partnership with Andy Murray has provided a significant boost. 'Obviously, I made a couple of changes with the coaching setup, but yeah, I'm in a really good place now with things and working through my bits,' he said. 'I feel like I'm able to be the player I want to be again on the court, which is a really great thing after a year of sort of struggle.' He vowed to stay on court consistently: 'I'm coming back to the point where I'm gonna stay on court from now. I want this period to be past me now, of dipping in and out of the tour.'
Draper's comeback begins at the Eastbourne Open, where he faces Nakashima. He remains optimistic about returning to the top, saying, 'I always knew that I'm going to be fine to come back. But obviously, the next question mark is how quickly I'm able to get back to being at the top again.'
