Sky Sports tennis commentator Laura Robson has cautioned Jack Draper that he should not approach the French Open feeling "undercooked" after the British youngster pulled out of his upcoming ATP commitments 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 after experiencing discomfort in his right knee against Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Following that retirement, 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 these withdrawals, the 2024 US Open semi‑finalist remains focused on the second Grand Slam of the season – Roland‑Garros – which begins in late May.
Robson emphasized that skipping the two clay events could actually be beneficial for Draper, who has been managing a lingering elbow issue that sidelined him for most of the 2025 campaign. Draper’s recent form has been encouraging. After returning from his elbow setback, he captured the title at Indian Wells last month – only his second ATP tournament back – and produced a headline‑grabbing victory over Novak Djokovic in the round of 16. He eventually fell to Daniil Medvedev in the quarter‑finals, but the win over the world No.1 demonstrated that his game is regaining its sharpness.
Robson explained the nature of Draper’s current injury: "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, but the good thing is that this is just a bit of a tendon issue." In other words, the knee pain appears to be a secondary problem caused by altered movement patterns while his elbow healed. The tendon irritation, while frustrating, is not considered a long‑term threat if managed correctly. With the Madrid and Rome stops off his schedule, Draper is expected to target a warm‑up event in either Hamburg or Geneva the week before the French Open. Both tournaments would give him a chance to test his fitness on clay without the pressure of a Grand Slam environment.
"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 told Sky Sports News. "That's what we're really going to be looking out for. Whether he plays in one of those events to try and 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, so he's still hopeful that the clay season isn't over for him." Robson’s remarks come as another British player, Emma Raducanu, also withdrew from the Madrid Open while she continues her rehabilitation.
Raducanu has been dealing with the after‑effects of a viral illness she contracted in Romania in early February, which left her with lingering fatigue and post‑viral symptoms. As a result, she missed the WTA events in Miami and Linz, and even sat out Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup tie against Australia. The 23‑year‑old is reportedly back in training and hopes to appear in Rome at the start of May, but her exact return date remains uncertain. Raducanu’s last competitive appearance was a third‑round loss at Indian Wells on March 8, where she was beaten 6‑1, 6‑1 by Amanda Anisimova.
In a recent interview she admitted, "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. She tried to go and play at the American hard courts but wasn't able to sustain that consistency and so she is just deciding to take some more time off, but it's kind of a bit of an unknown at the moment." Robson added that the health concerns are separate from any coaching issues. Raducanu recently split with Francis Roig after her Australian Open exit and has been working intermittently with Mark Petchey while also using hitting partner Alexis Canter. "In this case it's purely a health‑related issue that's holding her back from the match court.
It's nothing to do with whether you have someone in your camp or not. It doesn't make a difference if you're not able to go out there and practice, so ultimately, 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," Robson said. Both British players illustrate the delicate balance between injury management and tournament preparation that modern professionals must navigate.
While Draper’s knee tendon irritation may seem minor, it highlights how compensatory movements after a major injury – like his elbow problem – can create new vulnerabilities. The decision to skip two key clay events reflects a strategic choice: prioritize full recovery over short‑term ranking points, especially as he aims to be competitive in the demanding five‑set format of Roland‑Garros. For Raducanu, the priority is regaining baseline fitness after a viral setback. Her return will likely be gradual, focusing first on building stamina and confidence before tackling the high‑stakes environment of a Grand Slam.
Both athletes have expressed optimism about the upcoming clay season, and their respective teams are closely monitoring progress to ensure they arrive in Paris at peak condition. Fans can continue to follow the developments on Sky Sports, which offers live coverage of ATP and WTA events, as well as highlights, analysis, and exclusive interviews.
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