sevendayweekender – Jack Draper will miss the remainder of the clay court season, including next month’s French Open, because of an ongoing knee injury.
The 24-year-old British player confirmed the news after continuing to struggle with tendon issues in his right knee. An injury that first forced him to retire during his match in Barcelona earlier this month.
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Draper had initially remained hopeful that he could recover in time for Roland Garros. But medical advice has now ruled him out of the tournament.
In a message posted on Instagram, Draper explained that although his recovery is progressing. Returning immediately to the demands of five-set tennis on clay would carry too much risk.
The injury setback continues a frustrating pattern for Draper. Whose career has repeatedly been interrupted by physical problems despite his rapid rise in the men’s game.
Injury Problems Continue Difficult Period
That injury had sidelined him for much of the previous year. Limiting him to only one match between Wimbledon and the US Open.
Barcelona marked just the fourth tournament of his return to the ATP Tour. But the knee problem quickly disrupted his momentum again.
After withdrawing from both the Madrid Open and Italian Open, Draper ultimately accepted that he would not be ready for the French Open.
He had finished runner-up at the Madrid Open in 2025 and also reached the quarter-finals in Rome and the fourth round at Roland Garros.
Grass Court Return Remains the Target
Despite the setback, Draper remains hopeful of returning in time for the grass court season in June.
If fully fit, he could begin his comeback at Stuttgart, where he previously won the title two years ago, before competing at Queen’s Club in London ahead of Wimbledon.
For now, though, the priority remains recovery rather than rankings or tournament seeding.
Draper acknowledged that restricted training following his arm injury has also complicated his preparation and overall fitness.
The British player has shown enormous potential whenever healthy. Earlier this year, he enjoyed the strongest period of his career, winning his first ATP Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells Masters and climbing as high as fourth in the world rankings.
During that run, Draper defeated major opponents including Novak Djokovic, further strengthening belief that he could become one of the sport’s leading players in the coming years alongside stars such as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
British Tennis Faces More Injury Concerns
Draper is not the only British player dealing with injury issues ahead of the clay season’s biggest events.
Emma Raducanu recently skipped the Madrid Open while recovering from a lingering viral illness. Meanwhile, Sonay Kartal has been ruled out of the entire clay season because of a back injury.
For Draper, however, the focus is now entirely on long-term fitness and avoiding another rushed comeback.
Although the ranking drop and missed tournaments represent major disappointments, protecting his physical condition appears far more important for a player still viewed as one of Britain’s brightest tennis talents.
