British tennis prospect Jack Draper has confirmed that he will miss the upcoming French Open after suffering a setback with a knee tendon injury, casting further doubt over his participation at Wimbledon. This development adds another hurdle to the former world No.
4’s quest to regain his footing after a prolonged arm injury that kept him out of competition for nearly eight months. Since making his return to the tour in February, Draper has only managed to play nine matches across five tournaments.
His latest appearance ended prematurely at the Barcelona Open, where he retired in the first round against Tomas Etcheverry. Medical examinations following that match revealed that his knee tendon had been aggravated, prompting doctors to advise him against competing on the demanding clay courts of Roland Garros. In a brief Instagram story, Draper explained the situation to his followers: “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. After 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 bitter pill for the 24‑year‑old, who less than a year ago was perched inside the top four of the ATP rankings and was being touted as a possible challenger to the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner for the sport’s biggest titles. Missing Roland Garros now places Draper alongside Alcaraz in skipping the tournament, and it is highly likely that his ranking will slip well outside the top 100 by the time he returns to competition.
The British contingent as a whole has endured a challenging season. Emma Raducanu remains sidelined as she continues to recover from lingering post‑viral symptoms that emerged after an illness in early February. Sonay Kartal has already withdrawn from the French Open after sustaining a back injury at the Miami Open, while compatriots Fran Jones and Jacob Fearnley have also been battling various fitness concerns.
Only Cameron Norrie, who is poised to re‑enter the world’s top 20 next month, and Katie Boulter represented Great Britain in the singles draw at the current Madrid Open. The same limited representation may be seen at the forthcoming Italian Open in Rome. Raducanu has resumed training and could potentially appear at the Foro Italico, with the British No.
1 expected to make a final decision later this week. As for Draper, there is a glimmer of hope that he could make a comeback on grass later in the season.
The Stuttgart Open, a grass‑court event where he captured his first ATP title in 2024, begins on June 8 and could serve as a suitable platform for his return. This would be followed by the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London the following week, offering another opportunity for him to test his recovery on a surface that suits his aggressive style of play. The broader context of the news underscores the difficulties faced by British tennis this year. While the nation’s top players have shown flashes of brilliance, injuries and health setbacks have limited their ability to compete consistently at the highest level.
Fans are left hoping that the remaining time in the season will allow these athletes to regain fitness and regain the momentum that was lost earlier in the year. For those following the story, Sky Sports provides continuous updates via its WhatsApp service, delivering the latest news, video highlights, in‑depth analysis, and more. Viewers can also stream tennis matches without a contract through NOW, or access live ATP and WTA events via the Sky Sports app, which offers over 50 percent more live sport this year at no additional cost. Additional resources such as match scores, upcoming fixtures, and video highlights are available on the Sky Sports website, with a recommendation to use the Chrome browser for the best video playback experience.
In summary, Jack Draper’s withdrawal from the French Open due to a knee tendon issue represents a significant setback in his comeback journey. While his immediate focus will be on rehabilitation and a measured return to competition—potentially on grass courts later in the summer—the broader British tennis landscape continues to grapple with injuries and health challenges across its leading players. The hope remains that, with proper recovery time and strategic scheduling, Draper and his compatriots can return to form and contend for major titles in the months ahead.