Jack Draper withdraws from French Open as knee injury derails clay court campaign
The 24-year-old had hoped to defend his form on grass, but medical advice has forced a withdrawal from the Madrid and Rome ATP 1000 events as well
Britain's Jack Draper has confirmed his withdrawal from the French Open, ending his hopes of competing on the clay courts for the remainder of the season. The decision follows a diagnosis of a tendon injury to his right knee, which forced him to retire from his sole match of the campaign in Barcelona earlier this month.
Draper subsequently pulled out of the Madrid and Rome ATP 1000 tournaments, acknowledging that medical advice dictates he must not rush his return to five-set tennis on clay surfaces. While he expressed optimism that he would be fit for the grass court season commencing in June, the injury has compounded a previous bone bruising in his serving arm that has kept him off the tour since Wimbledon last year.
The impact on Draper's world ranking is expected to be significant. Currently sitting 28th in the world, he is projected to fall to around 50th after the conclusion of the Madrid Open. This drop will result from the loss of points earned as runner-up in Madrid last year, alongside the inability to recoup points from the Italian Open and the fourth round of Roland Garros.
If fully recovered, Draper could begin his grass campaign in Stuttgart on 8 June before returning to Queen's Club in London. However, missing the French Open means he will almost certainly fall outside the world's top 100, removing any chance of being seeded for Wimbledon and likely seeing him face a seeded opponent in the first or second round.
The injury marks the latest in a series of physical setbacks for the former British number one, whose early 2025 campaign included a Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells and a quarter-final appearance where he defeated Novak Djokovic. Despite these successes, his career has been frequently disrupted by injuries to his shoulder, hip, arm, and now his knee.
Fellow British players Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal are also facing challenges during this period, with Raducanu recovering from a viral illness and Kartal missing the entire clay season with a back injury. Draper's primary focus now shifts to rehabilitation, aiming to return to the tour in time for the grass season while managing the risks associated with his recurring physical issues.
