Laura Robson, the former British tennis star who now works as an analyst for Sky Sports, has issued a clear warning to rising British talent Jack Draper. She told him that heading into the French Open in a state of under‑preparation would be unwise, especially after the 2024 US Open semi‑finalist pulled out of the upcoming ATP tournaments in Madrid and Rome because of a knee problem. Draper’s recent run of setbacks began at the Barcelona Open, where he was forced to retire in the first round against Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry after feeling a sharp pain in his right knee.
The injury, which appears to be a tendon‑related issue, forced him to withdraw from the prestigious Madrid Open scheduled for this week and the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome the following month. Despite these absences, the 22‑year‑old remains focused on the second Grand Slam of the year – Roland‑Garros – which is set to take place in late May.
Robson emphasized that missing the Madrid event could actually be a blessing in disguise. Draper had previously struggled with a chronic elbow condition that kept him sidelined for most of the 2025 season, and the extra recovery time may help him avoid rushing back into competition before his body is fully ready. "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. She added that the problem seems to be a minor tendon irritation rather than a severe structural injury, which gives hope for a relatively swift return.
The British player’s recent form has been encouraging. After a long spell out of the tour, Draper made a strong statement at Indian Wells, where he notched a stunning victory over Novak Djokovic in the round of 16 before eventually falling to Daniil Medvedev in the quarter‑finals. That performance marked only his second ATP tournament since the comeback and demonstrated that he can still compete with the sport’s elite when fully fit.
Looking ahead, Robson suggested that Draper could use the week before the French Open to get some match practice at either the Hamburg Open or the Geneva Open. Both events are played on clay and would provide the competitive intensity he needs without the pressure of a Grand Slam setting. "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 said.
"We’ll be watching to see whether he decides to play one of those smaller tournaments to sharpen his game because you don’t want to go into a best‑of‑five match situation undercooked, feeling ill‑prepared, and without that match intensity." Robson also touched on the broader British tennis picture, noting that Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has also withdrawn from the Madrid Open. Raducanu is still dealing with lingering effects of a viral illness she contracted in Romania earlier this year, which has forced her to miss the WTA events in Miami and Linz as she focuses on full rehabilitation. She recently sat out Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup tie against Australia and is expected to resume training soon, with hopes of returning to competition in Rome at the start of May.
Raducanu’s situation underscores how health concerns can dominate a player’s calendar, regardless of coaching arrangements. After parting ways with Francis Roig following her Australian Open exit, she briefly reunited with Mark Petchey on an ad‑hoc basis and works with hitting partner Alexis Canter. However, Robson stressed that the primary obstacle for Raducanu is her recovery, not the composition of her coaching team.
"In this case it’s purely a health‑related issue that’s holding her back from the match court. It doesn’t matter who’s in your camp if you can’t practice," she said. Both Draper and Raducanu illustrate the delicate balance British tennis players must strike between ambition and physical wellbeing. While the allure of competing in high‑profile events is strong, both athletes appear to be taking a measured approach, prioritising long‑term health over short‑term gains.
For Draper, the goal is to arrive in Paris fit, confident, and ready to test his clay‑court abilities against the world’s best. For Raducanu, the aim is to rebuild her fitness foundation so she can once again challenge for titles. Fans can continue to follow the developments on Sky Sports, which offers live coverage of ATP and WTA tournaments, as well as on‑demand highlights through the Sky Sports app and NOW streaming service. With the clay season still in progress, there will be ample opportunity to see how both British stars navigate their recoveries and whether they can make a meaningful impact at Roland‑Garros later this month.