Jack Draper has announced he will miss next month’s Australian Open after failing to recover in time from a persistent arm injury. The British No 1, ranked 10th in the world, said in a video on X on Boxing Day: “Unfortunately, me and my team have decided not to head out to Australia this year.”
Draper has played just one match since Wimbledon after bone bruising in his left arm curtailed his 2025 season. The injury came to a head at the US Open in August, when he withdrew from his second-round match before ending his season shortly afterwards. He had been pencilled in to return at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown grand final in London earlier in December but followed advice to take more time in his recovery.
The 24-year-old admitted the decision was difficult given the tournament’s status. “However, I’ve had this injury for a long time, I’m at the very, very end stages of the process and to step back on court into best-of-five-set tennis so soon just doesn’t seem like a smart decision right now for me and my tennis,” he added.
Draper is now likely to target a comeback in February before the defence of his Indian Wells title at the beginning of March. He described the setback as the most challenging of his career, but said it had made him more resilient and hungry to succeed. “I’m looking forward to getting back out there in 2026 and competing,” he said.
