Jack Draper has criticised the ATP calendar, warning that tennis bosses are putting “a whole generation in danger” of long-term injuries. The Brit, currently ranked outside the world’s top 150, has ended his 2026 season early for the second consecutive year after playing just eight events.
Draper, 24, reached a career-high ranking of No. 4 in the world last year, helped by his title win in Indian Wells. However, a bone-bruising injury in his left arm has sidelined him, with short-lived returns followed by further time away from the sport. He has spent the better part of 18 months rehabbing and setting new comeback timelines.
Draper’s Concerns About the Tour Schedule
Speaking to BAGEL Magazine, Draper said he wants to look after his schedule to achieve longevity. “There's a lot of young tennis players now looking at the tour schedule and people say, ‘Oh, you don't need to play every week’, but at the end of the day, young players want to be number one. And to do that, you have to play week in, week out.”
He also pointed to broader issues in the sport: “There's been a lot of money-making decisions in tennis, especially from higher up. And although there's been a lot of good stuff going on, they’re really putting a whole generation in danger, getting injured all the time. It's more to do with the nature of the way the game's going as well: slower courts, slower balls and then athletes getting better. So it’s not in a good place.”
Alcaraz and Sinner Also Affected
Draper is not alone in his concerns. Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 3, has been increasingly vocal about the demanding schedule since returning from a wrist injury that kept him out for almost five months, causing him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon. “Seeing how tight is the calendar, obviously I don't want to have this break because of an injury. But in the future, I'm going to take some breaks, some long breaks. Maybe not four months, but one month, two months, missing some tournaments, because it's impossible to play them all,” he said at the US Open.
Jannik Sinner has not played since defending his Wimbledon title in July, missing the North American and Asian swings due to a knee injury, and has ended his season altogether. Other young players, including Holger Rune, Arthur Fils and Lorenzo Musetti, have also spent long periods away from the court due to injuries in recent years.
