Jack Draper Withdraws from 2026 Australian Open Due to Ongoing Injury
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A bruised bone in his left arm will keep British No. 1 Jack Draper sidelined for the start of the 2026 Grand Slam season, as the 24-year-old confirmed his withdrawal from the australian Open on Thursday. The decision comes as Draper continues a challenging recovery process that has limited his playing time throughout 2025.
Draper, currently ranked no. 10 in the world in men’s singles, acknowledged the difficulty of the choice, stating in a video posted on X: “Unluckily, me and my team have decided not to head out to Australia this year. it’s a really,really tough decision,with Australia being a Grand Slam,it’s one of the biggest tournaments in our sport.”
The injury first surfaced following his second-round defeat to Marin Cilic at Wimbledon. Draper’s last completed singles match was a first-round victory over Federico Agustin Gomez at the U.S. Open, where he appeared visibly uncomfortable while serving before ultimately withdrawing from the tournament.
A Prolonged Recovery
This latest setback marks a important hurdle for the promising British player. Draper explained the complexity of his current situation, noting, “I’ve had this injury for a long time and, I’m at the end stages of the process, and to step back on court in best-of-five set tennis so soon just doesn’t feel like the smart decision, right now, for me and my tennis.” He further emphasized the emotional toll, adding, “I’ve obviously been through a fair amount of setbacks so far — but by far and away this one’s been the most challenging, the most challenging and complex one that I’ve had.”
Draper had initially hoped to return to competitive play at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in London last month, but medical advice steered him toward a more cautious approach.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Despite the disappointment, Draper remains optimistic about his future. He expressed a resilient mindset, stating, “It’s weird, it always seems to make me more resilient, make me hungrier, to make me want to become the player I want to become even more. I’m looking forward to getting back out there in 2026 and competing.”
He also extended his gratitude to fans for their unwavering support throughout 2025,saying,”I just want to thank everyone all the support in 2025. It means the world to me to be competing and to be playing out there on the tour with the other guys, and I’m looking forward to doing that again.”
The Australian Open main draw is scheduled to begin on january 12.
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