Jack Draper has pulled out of the upcoming Madrid Open and will also miss next month’s Italian Open due to a knee tendon injury that has plagued his comeback on the ATP tour. The 24-year-old British player, who is still recovering from bone bruising that sidelined him from Wimbledon last year, withdrew from his only clay court match of the season in Barcelona after exacerbating the tendon problem. Draper’s latest setback comes just two months into his return, in which he has managed only eight matches. The injury compels him to abandon valuable ranking points in both Madrid and Rome, where he reached the final and quarter-finals in turn last year.
Exit from major clay tournaments
Draper’s withdrawal from Madrid and Rome constitutes a considerable setback to his clay court campaign and ranking protection. The British competitor had amassed substantial ranking points in both tournaments during the previous year, attaining his maiden Masters 1000 final in Madrid before falling to Casper Ruud, and advancing to the quarter-finals in Rome. By pulling out of both events, he will forfeit a combined 850 ranking points, a drop that threatens to push him outside the world’s top 70 and leave him unseeded for the French Open and probably Wimbledon as well.
The occurrence of the injury is particularly unfortunate given Draper’s strong comeback following his prolonged time away from the tour. His comeback had shown promise, including an impressive victory over Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells in March and a run to the quarter-finals at that event. However, the ongoing knee problem has forced him to reconsider his schedule and focus on rehabilitation over immediate ranking points. Despite the frustration, Draper remains optimistic about competing at Roland Garros, with the French Open beginning on 24 May his main objective for the coming weeks.
- Draper reached Madrid final in the previous year, losing to Casper Ruud
- Quarter-final appearance in Rome last season now costs ranking points
- Personal best ranking of four in June now threatened by withdrawal
- Considering ATP event in Geneva or Hamburg before French Open
The injury setback and timeline for recovery
Draper’s knee tendon injury constitutes a fresh complication in what has been a troublesome return to competition. The 24-year-old British player confirmed the setback whilst maintaining guarded hope about his prospects at the French Open. “An aggravated tendon in my knee means I am not able to play in Madrid and Rome,” he explained. “It’s frustrating for sure, but I am grateful it isn’t anything more serious. I’m recovering well and I am confident in my chances of being fit for Roland Garros.” His comments suggest the injury, whilst substantial enough to force withdrawal from two major tournaments, is not anticipated to derail his overall campaign this season.
The occurrence of the injury is especially frustrating given Draper’s recent progress after his eight-month absence from the tour due to bone bruising in his left serving arm. His comeback had demonstrated real potential, resulting in an impressive run to the Indian Wells quarter-finals where he impressively beat world number one Novak Djokovic. However, the persistent knee problem threatens to stall the progress he had steadily regained. Draper is weighing up an ATP event in Hamburg or Geneva during the week preceding the French Open, which starts on 24 May, as a means of building match fitness before his primary objective.
Barcelona retirement indicates mounting unease
The severity of Draper’s condition was evident during his first-round match at the Barcelona Open, where he was obliged to pull out whilst trailing Spain’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry 4-1 in the concluding set. The physical toll of the problem was evident in his compromised movement, prompting his physio to place supportive strapping to the area below his right knee before the deciding set started. This was merely his fourth tournament back after his prolonged absence, indicating the pressures of competing on clay have imposed considerable stress on his mending knee.
Draper had earlier worn knee tape during his Indian Wells tournament in March early on, indicating the injury issue predates his Barcelona withdrawal. The fact that he managed to compete through that tournament—despite the underlying problem—but was eventually forced to withdraw in Barcelona implies the problem has worsened rather than stabilised. This pattern of escalating discomfort raises questions about whether his return timetable was appropriately calibrated to his physical readiness.
Ranking implications and competitive seeding
Draper’s absence from Madrid and Rome presents significant consequences for his ATP ranking, with a combined total of 850 ranking points now at danger of slipping from his record. The British player had gathered considerable points during his impressive performance at both tournaments last year, attaining his maiden clay court final in Madrid before losing to Casper Ruud, and subsequently advancing to the quarter-finals in Rome. The loss of these defending points is expected to precipitate a significant decline in his world ranking, probably moving him outside the top 70 for the first time since his rise to prominence last season.
The ranking slip will produce immediate effects for Draper’s seeding status at the forthcoming major tournaments. He is now virtually guaranteed to be unseeded at the French Open, a significant disadvantage on clay where seeds prove crucial in working through the draw. Similarly, his chances of keeping a seeding at Wimbledon—his domestic Grand Slam—appear progressively distant. This constitutes a marked change to his highest ranking of world number four attained in June last year, underlining how quickly injuries and missed tournaments can diminish hard-won advancement in professional tennis.
| Tournament | Points at Risk |
|---|---|
| Madrid Open | 600 |
| Italian Open (Rome) | 250 |
| Total ranking impact | 850 |
| Projected ranking movement | Outside top 70 |
- Draper’s career high ranking of fourth in the world achieved in 2025’s June.
- Madrid 2025 final showing against Casper Ruud represents significant defending points.
- Loss of seeding status affects draw positioning at Roland Garros and Wimbledon tournaments.
French Open hopes and wider injury record
Despite the frustration of missing two significant clay court tournaments, Draper has struck an optimistic tone regarding his chances at Roland Garros, which begins on 24 May. The British competitor has stated confidently that his recovery will advance sufficiently to allow him competitive readiness for the French Open, indicating that the current knee tendon issue, whilst problematic, is not anticipated to derail his Grand Slam preparations entirely. He is even considering entering a warm-up ATP event in either Hamburg or Geneva during the week preceding the tournament, a decision that will eventually hinge on how his recovery progresses over the following weeks.
Draper’s willingness to discuss his positive outlook on Paris shows a greater sophistication in his handling of injury management. Rather than embracing negativity, he has recognised the reverse whilst keeping things in perspective, observing that he is “thankful it is not anything more significant.” This balanced outlook suggests he has learned valuable lessons from prior lengthy absences, recognising the significance of emotional fortitude together with physical recovery. His skill in isolating setback and focus on mid-range targets may be equally important as his physical rehabilitation in establishing whether he can recover the form that saw him reach a career-high ranking of fourth in the world rankings.
Pattern of physical setbacks throughout career
The ongoing knee injury represents merely the latest in a troubling sequence of injuries that have punctuated Draper’s professional journey. In 2023, he suffered a six-month lay-off from the tour resulting from a shoulder injury, a significant setback that raised questions about his durability at the elite level. Subsequently, hip problems hampered his training leading up to 2025, though he managed to overcome these difficulties sufficiently to achieve a career-defining performance at Indian Wells, where he secured his first Masters 1000 title and reached the Madrid final.
The bone bruising that kept him out for an extended period after Wimbledon last year, allowing only a single Davis Cup outing before his return in February, further underscores the vulnerability of his bodily state. Each setback has forced prolonged spells away from competition, affecting rhythm and momentum at crucial junctures in the calendar. The cumulative effect of these persistent issues inevitably raises questions regarding whether Draper’s body can withstand the relentless demands of professional tennis, notwithstanding his evident talent and fighting mentality.
British tennis squad affected by injuries
Draper’s absence from the Madrid and Rome events leaves the British tennis contingent considerably weakened during the crucial spring clay court season. With Emma Raducanu also sidelined from Madrid as she continues her recovery from illness, only Katie Boulter and Cameron Norrie represent Great Britain at this week’s tournament. The simultaneous injuries to two of Britain’s most promising talents underscore the precarious nature of professional tennis, where the margin between elite competition and enforced absence remains frustratingly thin. Both players have shown considerable promise in recent seasons, and their absence from significant ranking events represents a notable blow to British tennis aspirations during this pivotal period of the calendar|key stage in the tennis calendar.
The scheduling of Draper’s absence is especially regrettable given the significant ranking points at stake in Madrid and Rome. He will forfeit 850 ranking points in both tournaments, a loss that is expected to see him fall beyond the world’s top 70 from his present position. This drop in the rankings carries significant implications for his seeding chances at the French Open and beyond, possibly impacting his draw and competitive positioning at Wimbledon later in the summer. The cascading consequences of missing these events go further than the immediate tournament results, influencing his progress through the remainder of the season.
- Draper reached Madrid final and Rome last eight in previous year
- Raducanu absent from Madrid continuing illness rehabilitation plan
- Boulter and Norrie represent sole British representatives at Madrid