Jack Draper’s season has taken a dramatic turn. The 24‑year‑old British left‑hander, who recently fell out of the French Open and slipped out of the ATP top‑100, is now grappling with a string of injuries that could shape his schedule for the rest of the year.
After battling an arm problem earlier in the season, he has now been forced to withdraw from the Roland‑Garros event because of a worsening knee tendon injury, leaving him on the sidelines as the grass‑court swing approaches. Since his return to competition in February, Draper has managed to play only nine matches across five tournaments. His comeback was halted abruptly at the Barcelona Open, where he retired in the first round against Tomas Etcheverry.
Medical examinations later confirmed that the knee tendon issue had been aggravated, adding another setback to a year already marred by a lingering left‑arm injury that kept him out of the Australian Open. Last year Draper’s rise was meteoric. A run to the final in Madrid earned him 680 ranking points, propelling him to a career‑high No.
28 in the world. Those points are set to drop off in the coming weeks, and with the loss of additional points from his performances in Rome and the French Open, he is projected to tumble to around No. 49 before the Wimbledon entry deadline.
If the points from his 2023 appearances in Rome and Paris are removed, he will likely finish the season outside the top‑100, a stark contrast to the No. 4 peak he achieved in June of the previous year after winning his first ATP Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells. The British No.
2 has made the pragmatic decision to skip the grueling best‑of‑five‑set format of the French Open, opting instead to focus on recovery and preparation for the upcoming grass season. This choice means he will not be seeded at Wimbledon, potentially drawing a top‑seeded opponent such as world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, or a fit Carlos Alcaraz in the first round.
The Championships begin on Monday, June 29, and Draper will be eligible to enter directly because the entry cut‑off occurs before his ranking falls below the top‑100 threshold. While his Wimbledon prospects remain uncertain, there is concern that the injury saga could also jeopardise his participation in the US Open later this year. The American swing—including key events in Washington, Montreal, and Cincinnati—offers vital opportunities to amass the points needed to regain a comfortable ranking.
Missing these tournaments could leave Draper in a precarious position heading into the final Grand Slam of the season. Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli commented on the situation, noting that the decision to withdraw was “disappointing but understandable” given the difficulty of recovering from a serious injury.
She highlighted the unique demands of Roland‑Garros, where the slower clay surface produces long rallies and extended matches, making it essential for players to be at 100 percent fitness. Bartoli also drew a parallel with Carlos Alcaraz, suggesting that both young stars are dealing with injuries that are challenging to treat.
Former British doubles specialist Colin Fleming added his perspective, emphasizing the toll that best‑of‑five matches can take on a body still healing from an arm issue. He questioned whether Draper could realistically return to the rigours of a Grand Slam on clay, where sliding and sustained effort are inevitable. Fleming expressed optimism about Draper’s return to grass, noting that the player has already resumed hitting and should aim to be fully competitive at Wimbledon. Draper’s recent performances provide a glimpse of his potential when healthy.
At Indian Wells, only his second ATP event after a lengthy lay‑off, he produced a stunning upset over 24‑time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and advanced to the quarter‑finals. Bartoli recalled that moment as a sign that Draper was “getting back on track,” but she also warned that the mental strain of injury layoffs can be just as taxing as the physical recovery. Former British No.
1 Greg Rusedski has also weighed in, urging caution. On his "Off Court with Greg Rusedski" podcast, he noted that the shoulder had finally healed, only for the knee to flare up. Rusedski stressed that a rushed return could lead to further setbacks, advising Draper to take the necessary practice sets and avoid rushing back into competition. Looking ahead, Draper could make his grass‑court debut at the Stuttgart Open, which kicks off on June 8, or at the Queen’s Club Championships the following week.
Both events would provide a less physically demanding platform than the clay courts of Paris, allowing him to test his knee’s resilience before the ultimate test at Wimbledon. In summary, Jack Draper’s 2024 campaign has been a roller‑coaster of highs and lows. From a breakthrough year that saw him capture a Masters 1000 title and climb into the top‑30, to a series of injuries that have forced him out of the French Open and threatened his ranking, his journey underscores the fragile nature of professional tennis. The next few months will be crucial: a successful recovery could see him back on the grass, potentially challenging the sport’s elite, while another setback could prolong his absence from the sport’s biggest stages.
Fans and commentators alike will be watching closely as Draper navigates this pivotal chapter in his career.