Sky Sports Tennis commentator Laura Robson has issued a clear warning to rising British star Jack Draper, urging him not to approach the French Open "undercooked" after he withdrew from the upcoming ATP tournaments in Madrid and Rome due to a knee problem. Draper, who currently holds the position of British No. 2, was forced to retire from his first-round match at the Barcelona Open on Monday after experiencing discomfort in his right knee while facing Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Following that setback, Draper confirmed that he will sit out this week’s Madrid Open and also miss 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 calendar year, Roland‑Garros, which is scheduled for late May. Robson emphasized that missing the top‑40 ranking cut‑off could actually be a silver lining for Draper, who has been battling a lingering elbow injury that sidelined him for the bulk of the 2025 season.
The British player’s recent form has been a mixture of promise and frustration. After a successful title defence in Indian Wells last month – only his second ATP event since returning from injury – Draper produced a stunning upset over Novak Djokovic in the round of 16 before eventually succumbing to Daniil Medvedev in the quarter‑finals. Robson praised Draper’s meticulous approach to his comeback, noting that the player has taken the time to ensure he is fully fit before stepping back onto the court.
She explained that the current knee issue is a typical compensation injury that can arise when an athlete is still recovering from a previous ailment, leading to altered movement patterns and added stress on tendons. "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," Robson told Sky Sports News. Looking ahead, Draper is expected to target warm‑up events in Hamburg or Geneva the week before the French Open, hoping to gain valuable match practice on clay without over‑exerting his recovering knee. Robson highlighted the importance of not entering a best‑of‑five Grand Slam match without sufficient preparation, stating that a lack of recent competitive play could leave Draper feeling "ill‑prepared" and vulnerable to early exits.
"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. "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 also noted that fellow Brit Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Madrid Open as she continues her recovery from a post‑viral illness that has hampered her fitness.
Raducanu, the British No. 1, has also pulled out of the WTA events in Miami and Linz, opting to focus on rehabilitation after a bout of illness she contracted in Romania in early February.
The 23‑year‑old is reportedly back in training and hopes to compete in Rome at the start of May, but her exact return date remains uncertain. Raducanu’s last competitive appearance came at Indian Wells on March 8, where she suffered a heavy 6‑1, 6‑1 defeat to Amanda Anisimova in the third round. In a recent interview she admitted that the lingering effects of the viral infection have made it difficult to maintain consistency on the court, prompting her to prioritize health over immediate tournament play.
"If only we knew when Raducanu will return to action," she said. "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 hardcourts 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.
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, so 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 recently split with coach Francis Roig after her Australian Open exit and has been working on an ad‑hoc basis with former coach Mark Petchey, alongside hitting partner Alexis Canter. She stressed that Raducanu’s current situation is purely health‑related and not a reflection of her coaching team.
"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 explained. Both Draper and Raducanu illustrate the broader challenge British tennis faces when dealing with injury and illness during a tightly packed season.
Their decisions to skip high‑profile events underline a growing awareness among players and their support teams that long‑term health must take precedence over short‑term gains. By allowing adequate recovery time, they aim to return stronger for the marquee tournaments that define their careers. For fans eager to follow the developments, Sky Sports continues to provide live coverage of ATP and WTA tours, with additional streaming options available through the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app. These services grant subscribers access to a larger share of live sport, ensuring that audiences can stay up‑to‑date with the latest matches, scores, and highlights as British tennis navigates this pivotal period.