Jack Draper ends season to heal arm injury
Jack Draper has ended his season to recover from bone bruising in his serving arm and target a return next year.
Draper takes an immediate break
Jack Draper has ended his season to focus on recovery from bone bruising in his serving arm. He hopes to return to competition at the start of next year after stepping away to heal and reset. The break is immediate. At 24, he said he wants to return only when he can play without anything limiting him.
His recent schedule has already been restricted by the injury, with few appearances since Wimbledon last year. Court Shark's completed-match record shows Draper has gone 4-6 across his last 10, a difficult run that reflects how little continuity he has had. He is taking time away from tennis with friends as part of the recovery process. Training is expected to resume gradually in the coming weeks.
A painful end to the hard-court swing
Draper missed the US Open after first-round exits in Montreal and Cincinnati last month. His loss to Terence Atmane in Canada was especially difficult, as he left the court in tears while struggling through the match. The arm problem has made a normal return impossible. His focus now is on feeling free to hit his serve again, rather than forcing another comeback before he is ready.
The absence also affects his route back into major events. Draper will not be eligible for a protected ranking if he returns in January because the time away does not pass the required threshold. His ranking was listed at 155, so entry into Grand Slams and tour events could depend on qualifying or invitations. That issue can wait. Health is the priority after a season interrupted by pain.
Equipment and coaching changes are underway
Draper's team is examining several possible contributors to the arm issue as he begins his rehabilitation. He has moved away from polyester strings and is trying natural gut, despite it feeling unfamiliar, in an effort to reduce strain. His racquet is also lighter. Changes to his serve and diet are part of the broader effort to prevent the injury from dictating his next return.
Andy Murray remains on Draper's coaching staff, although he will spend only limited weeks travelling with him. Draper also worked with LTA coaches James Trotman and Alex Lisiecki during the summer. A permanent coach will be needed alongside Murray once the British player is ready for regular competition. That appointment matters because the return will require careful planning on court and away from it.
The return will need patience
Draper reached No. 4 after winning his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells and finishing runner-up in Madrid. That period showed the level he can reach when his body allows him to train and compete normally. Since then, the injury has changed the picture. He described the physical pain and repeated attempts to return as deeply tiring, even while saying the experience has helped him grow.
His schedule next year will need to account for an arm that may not be completely healed by January. The demands placed on leading players have also become a concern for him and his team. Draper has made clear that tennis remains his central ambition, but he is choosing a slower path back. The aim is simple: arrive fit enough to play his own game again.
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