Sky Sports tennis commentator Laura Robson has cautioned Jack Draper that he must avoid arriving at the French Open "undercooked" after the British youngster pulled out of the upcoming ATP tournaments in Madrid and Rome due to a knee problem. Draper, who is currently the No.2 British male player, was forced to retire from his first‑round match at the Barcelona Open on Monday when he experienced a setback in his right knee against Chilean opponent Tomás Martín Etcheverry. Following that incident, Draper announced that he will sit out the Madrid Open this week as well as next month’s Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome. Despite these absences, the 2024 US Open semi‑finalist remains focused on the second Grand Slam of the season, Roland‑Garros, scheduled for late May.
Robson pointed out that missing the Madrid event could actually be beneficial for Draper. The 24‑year‑old has been dealing with a lingering elbow injury that kept him off the tour for most of the 2025 season, and the extra recovery time may allow him to address lingering physical issues without the pressure of competition. "He really took the time out to make sure it was 100 per cent, and unfortunately, this is now a knee issue that so often happens when you're coming back from one thing, you compensate, you feel like you haven't been able to get the work in where it needs to happen in the gym and on the practice court," Robson explained to Sky Sports News.
"The good thing is that this is just a bit of a tendon issue." Last month, Draper defended his title at Indian Wells, marking only the second ATP tournament of his comeback. He produced a stunning upset over Novak Djokovic in the round of 16 before eventually falling to Daniil Medvedev in the quarter‑finals. That performance demonstrated that his game is still capable of competing at the highest level, but the recent knee complaint underscores the delicate balance between pushing for results and allowing the body to heal fully.
Looking ahead, Robson said Draper is likely to aim for a warm‑up event in either Hamburg or Geneva the week before the French Open. Those tournaments would give him a few matches on clay without the intense physical demands of a Grand Slam, helping him gauge his fitness and regain match rhythm. "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," Robson noted.
"We’ll be watching to see whether he competes in one of those events to get some match practice, because you don’t want to go into a best‑of‑five match situation undercooked, feeling ill‑prepared, and without that match intensity. He’s still hopeful that the clay season isn’t over for him." Robson also highlighted the parallel situation of fellow Brit Emma Raducanu, who withdrew from the Madrid Open as she continues her recovery from a post‑viral illness that first emerged during a tournament in Romania in early February. Raducanu has also missed the WTA events in Miami and Linz, choosing to focus on rehabilitation rather than risk a premature return. The 23‑year‑old last appeared at Indian Wells on March 8, where she suffered a heavy 6‑1 6‑1 defeat to Amanda Anisimova in the third round.
Raducanu herself admitted uncertainty about her timetable, saying, "If only we knew when I’ll be back. I'm still struggling with the effects of a viral illness I picked up back in February.
I tried to play on the American hard courts but couldn’t sustain the consistency, so I’m taking more time off. It’s a bit of an unknown at the moment.
I’m not able to practice enough, which makes it the wrong decision to enter a big tournament like Madrid and risk it." She added that the decision ultimately rests with her, but she hopes to return soon because she remains a major draw for early‑round matches and wants to regain top form and fitness. Coaching changes have also featured in Raducanu’s recent narrative.
After parting ways with Francis Roig following her Australian Open exit, she briefly reunited with Mark Petchey on an ad‑hoc basis while working with hitting partner Alexis Canter. Robson emphasized that Raducanu’s current hurdle is purely health‑related, not a coaching issue. "It doesn’t matter who’s in her camp if she can’t get on court and practice.
Once she’s back to 100 per cent physically, she’ll feel confident and know she’s working on the right things on and off the court," Robson said. "She’s returned to the LTA National Tennis Centre for practice, so the technical level is there. It’s all about getting healthy again." In summary, both Draper and Raducanu are navigating delicate recovery periods, prioritising long‑term health over short‑term tournament appearances. Draper’s decision to skip Madrid and Rome aims to give his knee the necessary rest before a potential French Open run, while Raducanu is taking a cautious approach to ensure she returns fully fit.
Fans can continue to follow their progress via Sky Sports’ live coverage or the NOW streaming platform, which offers expanded access to ATP and WTA events for subscribers.