Jack Draper returns to Indian Wells this week to defend his first Masters title, having spent much of the past year sidelined by a persistent bone bruising in his serving arm. The 24-year-old Briton has played only two ATP matches in 2025, winning one, after a fragmented season that saw him withdraw from the US Open and miss the Australian Open entirely.
Draper's rapid rise last year included a first major semi-final at the US Open, a victory over Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells, and a run to the Madrid final, propelling him to a career-high ranking of world No. 4. However, the bone bruising, first felt during the clay season, derailed his momentum. He ended his 2025 season in September and only returned to the ATP Tour in Dubai last month.
Off the court, Draper has overhauled his team, replacing longtime coach James Trotman with Jamie Delgado, who previously guided Andy Murray to Wimbledon glory. He has also signed a clothing deal with Vuori and launched a YouTube docuseries about his comeback. The changes extend to his game: he has remodelled his serving stance and focused on his transition play and volleys during the layoff.
Draper acknowledged the challenge of returning to top-level competition, saying: 'I feel like I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could go all the way again, but I recognise it’s a step up after time away.' He faces a tough draw, with Novak Djokovic a potential quarter-final opponent. His title defence begins against a qualifier.
