Jack Draper withdraws from French Open due to knee injury
Jack Draper has confirmed his withdrawal from the French Open and the entire clay court season as he continues recovering from a persistent knee tendon problem, reports BritPanorama.
The 24-year-old British player announced this decision via Instagram, where he expressed the disappointment of being advised against an early return to competitive action. “My knee is on the mend and I’ve started back hitting balls but unfortunately I have been advised not to play Roland Garros,” Draper stated, noting the necessity to avoid rushing back into competitive play.
Draper currently holds the world number 28 ranking, though it is expected to fall significantly in the coming weeks. He was defending 650 points earned from his runner-up finish at last year’s Madrid Open, which concludes soon. Without these points, his ranking may plunge to around 50th following Madrid, and potentially drop outside the top 100 before he returns to the circuit.
Additionally, Draper will not be able to recover points from reaching the Italian Open quarter-finals or the fourth round at Roland Garros in the previous year. The tendon issue first arose during his opening match against Tomas Martin Etcheverry at the Barcelona Open, an event from which he retired midway through the deciding set after seeking on-court treatment.
This latest setback follows a prolonged absence from the sport due to bone bruising in his serving arm that sidelined him for approximately eight months. Having only recently returned to action, Draper stressed the importance of properly rehabilitating his injuries. “Off the back of the arm injury, I’ve been restricted with my training and by giving myself the time to heal and build, I can be the player I want to be out there once again,” he explained.
Should he regain full fitness, Draper is expected to target a return at the Stuttgart Open beginning on 8 June, a tournament he won two years ago. However, the impact on his ranking raises significant challenges, particularly regarding potential matchups at Wimbledon.
With the clay season now behind him, all eyes will be on whether Draper can navigate this tumultuous phase and return stronger, highlighting the unpredictable nature of professional sport where athlete well-being often intersects with competition.
