According to Sky Sports Tennis analyst Laura Robson, Jack Draper must avoid heading into the French Open without sufficient preparation. Draper recently withdrew from upcoming ATP events in Madrid and Rome due to a knee injury.
The British No 2 had retired from the Barcelona Open first-round clash against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, also because of the issue in his right knee. Draper aims to participate in the year's second Grand Slam at Roland-Garros in May. Robson believes it's positive news for Draper, who previously struggled with a long-standing elbow issue. Draper is expected to target events in Hamburg or Geneva, the week before the French Open, to get some much-needed practice.
Robson stated, 'He's looking to take a couple of weeks off now after having to retire from his match in Barcelona last week, but he is hopeful of being able to play Roland-Garros, and if not, the week before.' Fellow Brit Emma Raducanu also withdrew from the Madrid Open as she continues to recover from post-viral symptoms. Raducanu is back in training and hopeful of playing in Rome at the start of May. Robson said, 'If only we knew [when Raducanu will return to action], she's still struggling with the effects of a viral illness that she picked up back in February. Ultimately, only she knows the answer to that question, so when will we see her?
That's very much up in the air at the moment.'