Jack Draper Withdraws from Monte-Carlo Masters

Jack Draper's clay-court season will be put on hold as he withdraws from the Monte-Carlo Masters. The British player was looking to kick-start his 2026 season in Monte Carlo, but an arm injury has forced him to reconsider his schedule. Draper's next scheduled event is the Barcelona Open, which takes place from April 13-19, but it remains uncertain whether he will participate. The 24-year-old has recently returned to action after a six-month hiatus due to a bruised humerus bone, competing in the Davis Cup and tournaments in Doha, Indian Wells, and Miami. Despite a strong run to the quarter-finals at Indian Wells, where he defeated former world No 1 Novak Djokovic, Draper was unable to maintain his form in Miami. Former British player Tim Henman believes Draper is on the path to recovery, stating, 'He's back playing on the tour but at the level where he was 12 months ago winning the title here - he's still just got to keep building. Form is temporary, class is permanent.' Draper has a packed schedule ahead, with potential appearances in Munich, Hamburg, Geneva, Madrid, and Rome before the French Open. Last year, he made a notable impact on the clay court, reaching the final of the Madrid Open and the quarter-finals in Rome. The Monte-Carlo Masters has also been affected by the withdrawal of Novak Djokovic due to a right shoulder injury, as well as American players Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Sebastian Korda. The influx of late withdrawals has opened up opportunities for other players, including Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Daniel Altmaier, to enter the main draw. Meanwhile, British No 1 Cameron Norrie is looking to build on his fine form, which has seen him edge closer to the world's top 20, as he heads into the clay-court season.