British tennis hopeful Jack Draper has confirmed that he will not compete in the upcoming French Open after doctors diagnosed a worsening knee tendon injury. The 24‑year‑old’s withdrawal also casts doubt over his ability to take part in Wimbledon, the sport's next Grand Slam, as he continues to manage his recovery.
This setback adds to a string of difficulties for the former world No. 4, who has been trying to rebuild his career after a serious arm injury kept him off the court for roughly eight months. Since making his comeback in February, Draper has only managed to play nine matches across five tournaments, a modest tally that underscores how fragile his physical condition remains.
His most recent appearance ended prematurely at the Barcelona Open, where he was forced to retire during a first‑round encounter with Spain’s Tomas Etcheverry. Medical examinations following that match revealed an aggravated knee tendon problem.
Initially, Draper had hoped to be fit for the second Grand Slam of the year – the French Open – but further assessment advised against exposing his knee to the demanding five‑set matches on clay. Draper shared the news with his followers via an Instagram story, writing: “My knee is on the mend and I’ve started back hitting balls but unfortunately I have been advised not to play Roland Garros. As gutting as it is to miss another Slam, the advice is not to rush straight back into playing five‑set tennis on clay. Off the back of the arm injury I sustained last year, I’ve been restricted with my training and by giving myself the time to heal and build, I can be the player I want to be out there once again.
See you soon!” The decision is a painful one for a player who, less than a year ago, was perched among the world’s top four and was being mentioned as a possible challenger to the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner for major titles. Missing Roland Garros now places him alongside Alcaraz, who also withdrew, and makes it highly likely that Draper will slip out of the top 100 rankings by the time he is ready to return. His absence is part of a broader pattern of misfortune that has plagued Britain’s leading tennis prospects this season. Emma Raducanu remains sidelined as she continues to recover from lingering post‑viral symptoms that emerged after an illness in early February.
Meanwhile, Sonay Kartal has already ruled herself out of the French Open after suffering a back injury at the Miami Open, and both Fran Jones and Jacob Fearnley have been battling various fitness concerns. Only Cameron Norrie, who is expected to re‑enter the world’s top‑20 in the coming weeks, and Katie Boulter have been able to compete in the singles draw at the current Madrid Open. Their presence may also be the only British representation at the forthcoming Italian Open in Rome. Raducanu, however, has returned to training and could potentially appear at the Foro Italico, with the British No.
1 expected to make a final decision later this week. Draper, on the other hand, might aim for a comeback on grass, targeting the Stuttgart tournament where he captured his first title of 2024. That event kicks off on June 8, followed by the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London the next week, offering a possible pathway back to form before Wimbledon. The broader tennis community can follow these developments through Sky Sports’ various platforms, including its WhatsApp channel, the Sky Sports app, and streaming services such as NOW.
The network continues to provide extensive coverage of ATP and WTA events, offering live matches, highlights, and analytical content to fans worldwide. For those interested in catching Draper’s future appearances or keeping up with the British contingent’s progress, Sky Sports remains a primary source of up‑to‑date information and live sport streaming.