British tennis hopeful Jack Draper has confirmed that he will miss the upcoming French Open after being sidelined by a knee tendon injury, a setback that also casts doubt on his participation at Wimbledon. This development adds another hurdle to the former world No. 4’s quest to rebuild his career following a lengthy arm injury that kept him out of competition for roughly eight months.
Since making his comeback in February, Draper has only managed to play nine matches across five tournaments. His most recent appearance ended prematurely at the Barcelona Open, where he retired in the first round against Tomas Etcheverry. Medical examinations after that match revealed an aggravated knee tendon problem, a condition that he had hoped to overcome before the second Grand Slam of the year.
In a brief Instagram story, Draper explained his situation: "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 24‑year‑old’s withdrawal is a significant disappointment, especially considering that less than a year ago he was ranked inside 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.
By pulling out of Roland Garros, he joins Alcaraz in missing the tournament, and his ranking is likely to slip well outside the top 100 by the time he returns to the tour. Draper’s situation reflects a broader pattern of misfortune for British tennis this season.
Emma Raducanu remains out of competition as she continues to recover from lingering post‑viral symptoms that followed an illness in early February. Sonay Kartal has already withdrawn from the French Open after sustaining a back injury at the Miami Open, and fellow British players Fran Jones and Jacob Fearnley have also been battling fitness concerns. Cameron Norrie, who is expected to re‑enter the world’s top 20 next month, and Katie Boulter were the only British singles competitors at the current Madrid Open, and a similar British presence may be seen at the upcoming Italian Open in Rome.
Raducanu has resumed training and could potentially appear at the Foro Italico, with a final decision on her participation expected later in the week. As for Draper, there is a glimmer of hope that he might make his return on grass. The Stuttgart tournament, where he captured his first title of 2024, could serve as a suitable re‑entry point, with the event slated to begin on June 8. Following Stuttgart, the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London are scheduled for the following week, offering another opportunity for him to test his recovery on a surface that suits his game.
The British tennis community, while disappointed by these setbacks, remains optimistic that the injured players will return stronger after proper rehabilitation. The focus now shifts to ensuring that each athlete receives the appropriate medical care and training adjustments needed to prevent further injuries. For Draper, the priority is to allow his knee to heal fully before subjecting it to the rigors of five‑set clay matches, which demand both endurance and explosive movement.
Fans can stay updated on the latest developments, scores, and match schedules through Sky Sports’ various platforms, including their WhatsApp service, the Sky Sports app, and streaming options like NOW. The network continues to provide extensive coverage of ATP and WTA events, promising viewers access to more than half again as much live sport this year at no additional cost for Sky Sports customers.