Jack Draper’s season has taken a dramatic turn. The 24‑year‑old left‑handed Briton, who was once perched inside the world’s top 30, has now slipped out of the top‑100 after a string of setbacks that began with a lingering arm problem and have since escalated to a knee injury. The latest development forced him to retire in the first round of the Barcelona Open against Tomas Etcheverry, where doctors later confirmed an aggravated knee‑tendon issue.
With Wimbledon looming, Draper faces the prospect of a grueling best‑of‑five encounter against a player of the calibre of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, should he manage to qualify. After a six‑month hiatus caused by a persistent left‑arm ailment that also kept him out of the Australian Open, Draper made a tentative return in February. Since that comeback he has managed only nine matches across five tournaments, a stark contrast to the busy schedule he enjoyed before his injuries.
The Barcelona withdrawal was the latest blow, and the diagnosis of a knee‑tendon flare‑up means his preparation for the grass‑court swing will be severely limited. Last season Draper’s rise was meteoric. A run to the Madrid Open final earned him 680 ranking points, propelling him to a career‑high No.
28. However, those points are set to drop off in the coming weeks, and with the loss of another 400 points from his performances in Rome and the French Open last year, he is projected to tumble to around No.
49 before the Wimbledon entry deadline. The subsequent removal of the 850 points he would have earned in Madrid, Rome and Paris this year will push him well beyond the top‑100 threshold. This shift means he will enter Wimbledon unseeded, opening the door to a first‑round clash with a top seed such as Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev or a fit Carlos Alcaraz. Recognising the physical toll of five‑set matches on clay, Draper has elected to skip Roland‑Garros entirely and concentrate on recovery for the grass season.
The decision was echoed by former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, who highlighted the difficulty of returning to a Grand Slam when the body is still healing. "We knew it would be a tough year to come back after injury, but it’s always disappointing to miss a Grand Slam," she told Sky Sports. "Roland‑Garros is especially demanding because of the surface and the length of rallies; you need to be at 100 % to compete." Former British doubles star Colin Fleming also weighed in, noting that the best‑of‑five format likely influenced Draper’s withdrawal from the French Open.
"He was back on court with his arm, but you have to ask yourself whether you’re really ready for a five‑set Grand Slam on clay," Fleming said. "He’s a player who believes he can beat the top guys, so it’s sad news, but let’s hope he’s fit for the grass and Wimbledon." If Draper does manage to play Wimbledon, he will still have the chance to enter directly because the entry cut‑off occurs before his ranking falls out of the top‑100.
Nonetheless, the lack of match practice on grass could leave him vulnerable. Some analysts suggest he might use the Stuttgart Open, which starts on June 8, as a final tune‑up before the prestigious Wimbledon fortnight.
The Queen’s Club Championships, slated for the week after Stuttgart, would then provide a perfect platform to test his fitness on the grass surface. Draper’s recent highlights include a stunning upset of Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells, where he reached the quarter‑finals in only his second ATP event after returning from injury.
Bartoli recalled that moment as a sign of his resurgence, but cautioned that the mental strain of a prolonged lay‑off can be just as challenging as the physical recovery. "You can heal physically, but watching the sport from the sidelines is mentally tough," she explained.
Veteran British No. 1 Greg Rusedski has also urged caution.
On his "Off‑Court with Greg Rusedski" podcast, he warned that a sudden knee issue after a long arm recovery could derail momentum. "You have six to seven months off, then you start to gain some rhythm, and a new injury pops up. It’s disconcerting," Rusedski said. He emphasized the importance of gradual re‑integration, noting that returning too early can lead to further setbacks.
Looking ahead, Draper’s immediate priority is to rebuild his body’s resilience and regain confidence on court. The grass‑court season offers a gentler surface than clay, which may reduce strain on his knee while allowing him to test his shot‑making and movement.
Should he navigate the early rounds successfully, a deep run at Wimbledon could restore some of the points lost and perhaps even lift him back into the top‑50. Beyond Wimbledon, Draper’s calendar includes key ATP 250 events in Washington, Montreal and Cincinnati. Strong performances in those tournaments will be crucial for accumulating the ranking points needed to re‑establish himself among the elite. However, any lingering discomfort could force further withdrawals, jeopardising his long‑term aspirations.
In summary, Jack Draper’s journey this year has been a rollercoaster of promise and disappointment. From a breakthrough season that saw him reach finals in Doha and Madrid, claim his first Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells, and break into the top‑30, he now faces a battle to reclaim that form after a series of injuries. The next few weeks will determine whether he can return to competitive tennis on grass, avoid further setbacks, and begin the climb back up the ATP rankings.