Sky Sports tennis commentator Laura Robson has cautioned Jack Draper that he must avoid arriving at the French Open in a state of under‑preparation after the British rising star pulled out of the upcoming ATP tournaments in Madrid and Rome due to a knee problem. Draper, who currently holds the British No.2 ranking, 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 Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Following that incident, Draper confirmed that he will sit out the Madrid Open this week as well as the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome next month. Despite missing these key clay‑court events, the 2024 US Open semi‑finalist remains focused on the season’s second Grand Slam at Roland‑Garros, which is scheduled for late May. Robson noted that while Draper’s withdrawal from the Madrid event will likely see him slip out of the top‑40 in the ATP rankings, the decision could actually be beneficial for his long‑term health.
Draper has been battling a lingering elbow injury that kept him largely off the tour throughout much of the 2025 season, and a cautious approach now may help him avoid compounding that issue. The British player’s most recent title defence took place at Indian Wells, where he entered his second ATP tournament since returning from injury. In a memorable run, Draper upset Novak Djokovic in the round of 16 before eventually falling to Daniil Medvedev in the quarter‑finals.
Robson praised his effort, saying, "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. The good thing is that this is just a bit of a tendon issue." With the French Open looming, Draper is expected to target a warm‑up event in either Hamburg or Geneva the week before Roland‑Garros, hoping to regain match sharpness without over‑taxing his knee.
"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 explained. "We’ll be watching to see whether he enters one of those tournaments 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 situation of fellow Brit Emma Raducanu, who similarly withdrew from the Madrid Open while working on a full recovery.
Raducanu has also skipped the WTA events in Miami and Linz, prioritising rehabilitation after a post‑viral illness she contracted in Romania in early February. The British No.1 is believed to be back in training and may aim to compete in Rome at the start of May. Raducanu’s last appearance on tour came at Indian Wells on March 8, where she suffered a heavy 6‑1, 6‑1 defeat to Amanda Anisimova in the third round. She commented on her uncertain timeline, saying, "She’s still struggling with the effects of a viral illness that she picked up back in February.
She tried to go and play at the American hard courts but wasn’t able to sustain that consistency, so she is just deciding to take some more time off. It’s a bit of an unknown at the moment. She’s not been able to put the practice in, which means it’s not the right decision to come to a big tournament like Madrid and risk it. Ultimately, only she knows the answer to that question.
When will we see her? That’s very much up in the air at the moment but hopefully soon because she is such a big draw for these events, especially in the early rounds as she looks to get back to top form and top fitness." Robson added that Raducanu’s current challenges are purely health‑related and not tied to her coaching situation. 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.
"It doesn’t make a difference if you’re not able to go out there and practice," Robson said. "She’s looking to set that up so when she is physically back to 100 per cent she can feel good, feel confident, and know that she’s working on the right things on and off the court. In terms of her camp, she’s been with quite a few people over the years and I’ve heard she’s gone back to the LTA National Tennis Centre where she can practice.
The level will always be there; it’s about being healthy and getting back to 100 per cent." Both Draper and Raducanu illustrate the delicate balance British tennis players must strike between ambition and injury management as they navigate a demanding clay‑court season. While the loss of marquee names from the Madrid draw may disappoint some fans, the extended recovery periods could ultimately extend their careers and improve their chances of deeper runs at Roland‑Garros. Sky Sports continues to provide live coverage of the ATP and WTA tours, with additional streaming options available through NOW and the Sky Sports app, offering subscribers more than 50 percent extra live sport at no extra charge.