Jack Draper Withdraws from Madrid and Rome Due to Knee Injury
British tennis player Jack Draper has officially withdrawn from both the Madrid Open and the Italian Open in Rome due to a persistent knee tendon injury. This setback comes at a critical time in the clay-court season, significantly impacting his preparations for the upcoming French Open at Roland-Garros.
Injury Details and Tournament Absences
The 24-year-old Draper has not completed a single clay-court match this season. He recently retired from his opening round match in Barcelona against Tomas Martin Etcheverry because of the same knee issue. Prior to that, he also missed the Monte Carlo Masters, and now he will be absent from the next two Masters 1000 events in Madrid and Rome.
Draper explained his situation, stating: “An aggravated tendon in my knee means I am not able to play in Madrid and Rome. It's frustrating for sure but I am thankful it isn't anything more serious, recovery is going well and I feel good about my chances of being fit for Roland Garros. I am looking forward to building momentum from there.”
Ranking Points and Seeding Consequences
This withdrawal carries severe ranking implications for the British No. 2. Draper has significant points to defend from last year's clay-court swing, where he was the runner-up in Madrid to Casper Ruud and reached the quarter-finals in Rome. Failing to defend these points will result in a loss of 850 ranking points.
Consequently, Draper is expected to plummet from his current world ranking of 28th to outside the top 70. This drop means he will be unseeded at the French Open, which begins on 24 May, and likely at Wimbledon as well, complicating his draw prospects at these major tournaments.
Recent Injury Struggles and Recovery Timeline
Draper has endured a frustrating eight-month period, playing only one singles match in the second half of last season due to a bone bruising injury in his left serving arm. In 2026, he has maintained a reduced tournament schedule to manage that previous injury, only to be sidelined again by this new right knee problem.
The knee injury required heavy strapping before the final set in Barcelona, where he retired when trailing 4-1 in the deciding set. As a former US Open semi-finalist, these repeated physical issues have hampered his ability to build consistency and form on the ATP Tour.
Final Preparations Before Roland-Garros
With the clay Masters events now missed, Draper's last opportunity to gain match fitness before the French Open will be at either the ATP 500 event in Hamburg or the ATP 250 tournament in Geneva. Both are scheduled for the week immediately preceding the start of play in Paris, providing a narrow window for competitive preparation.
Draper is not alone in withdrawing from the Madrid Open. Other high-profile players like Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have also pulled out due to injuries, while Emma Raducanu withdrew as she struggles to recover from a viral illness. This series of withdrawals highlights the physical demands of the professional tennis calendar, particularly during the gruelling clay-court season.
