Draper to miss Australian Open due to injury recovery
Jack Draper has declared that he will be absent from next month’s Australian Open, stating that he is not fully prepared to return to high-level competition. The British No 1 has participated in only a single match since Wimbledon, as bone bruising in his left arm has hampered his 2025 season, and he will be sidelined for a bit longer.
Draper, who is ranked 10th in the world, expressed in a video via X on Boxing Day: “Regrettably, my team and I have decided against traveling to Australia this year.
“This is an extremely tough choice, especially considering Australia is a Grand Slam—one of the premier tournaments in our sport. Nonetheless, I’ve been dealing with this injury for quite some time, and I’m nearing the final stages of recovery. To step back onto the court for best-of-five-set tennis at this stage just doesn’t seem like a wise choice for both me and my tennis.”
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“I’ve endured a number of setbacks up to this point, but this one has undeniably been the most challenging, the most complex, and the most difficult I’ve encountered. It’s peculiar; it often seems to make me more determined and more eager to evolve into the player I aspire to be even more. I can’t wait to return in 2026 and compete again. I am grateful to everyone for their support throughout 2025. It means so much to me to be competing and playing on tour with the other players. I’m eager to do that once more. Take care, everyone, and I appreciate the encouragement.” While Draper has faced challenges with the arm injury for an extended period, the video announcement came as a surprise since it was just two days following his statement to fans indicating his participation in Australia. The 24-year-old has previously fought serious injuries, missing half of the 2023 season due to a shoulder injury that required multiple surgeries.
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Sky Sports’ Laura Robson and Tim Henman discuss British No 1 Draper’s withdrawal from the US Open in September due to his ongoing arm injury.
Draper has been more strategic with his schedule since then, advancing to the US Open semi-finals in 2024 and securing his first ATP Masters 1000 title earlier this year in March at Indian Wells. The Brit achieved a career-high world ranking of No 4 in June, but injuries disrupted his season, resulting in his withdrawal after the first round of the US Open and missing the ATP Tour Finals in Turin. Draper had planned to participate in the Ultimate Tennis Showdown Grand Final in London earlier this month but opted to heed recommendations for extended recovery time. By missing the season’s opening Grand Slam, slated to begin on January 18 in Melbourne, Draper is now expected to aim for a comeback in February, just ahead of defending his Indian Wells title at the start of March. Watch the ATP and WTA Tours in 2026, live on Sky Sports or stream via NOW and the Sky Sports app, granting Sky Sports customers access to over 50 percent more live sports this year at no extra cost. Discover more here.
Published: 2025-12-26 19:45:00
source: www.skysports.com
