Following his withdrawal from upcoming ATP events in Madrid and Rome due to a knee injury, Sky Sports Tennis analyst Laura Robson has cautioned Jack Draper against heading into the French Open without sufficient preparation. Draper's decision to pull out of the Madrid Open and the Internazionali BNL d'Italia comes after he retired from his first-round clash at the Barcelona Open with a right knee issue. Despite this setback, Draper is targeting a return to action at the French Open, the year's second Grand Slam, in May. Robson believes it's crucial for Draper to get some match practice under his belt before the tournament, potentially at events in Hamburg or Geneva, to avoid feeling 'undercooked' in the best-of-five match situation.
Meanwhile, fellow Brit Emma Raducanu has also withdrawn from the Madrid Open as she continues her recovery from post-viral symptoms. Raducanu, who last played in the third round at Indian Wells, is back in training and hopeful of competing in Rome at the start of May.
Robson noted that Raducanu's current focus is on regaining full fitness, and her return to action remains uncertain.