Jack Draper finally broke his silence about why he’s been missing from tennis courts since his shocking Wimbledon exit. The British star revealed he’s been dealing with an arm injury that forced him to sit out two major tournaments.
It’s been a pretty dramatic fall from grace for the 23-year-old.
Just a few months ago, Draper was riding high after reaching the Queen’s Club semi-finals. As the home favorite at Wimbledon, many experts had him pegged as the fourth-best bet to win the tournament – right behind Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Draper | 23 | 1,131 | 13 - 12 |
Instead, he crashed out in the second round to veteran Marin Cilic.
Then came the withdrawals. First from Toronto, then Cincinnati – two huge ATP Masters 1000 events that players rarely skip unless something’s seriously wrong.
When players start pulling out of back-to-back Masters events right before a Grand Slam, it usually spells trouble. Just look at Matteo Berrettini, who missed both North American tournaments and ended up withdrawing from the US Open entirely.
But Draper’s not following that script.
The Real Story Behind His Absence
Speaking to the British LTA (Lawn Tennis Association), Draper opened up about what’s really been going on behind the scenes.
"I found out I had an injury in my arm, which I had been playing with for a little while. The doctors and my team advised me that I’d need to take some time out. I had a few days off, so I chilled and took my mind off tennis."
Turns out he’d been battling through the pain for weeks before finally getting proper medical advice.
The forced break wasn’t all bad news, though.
"Then I was really motivated to come back and do a really good fitness block and work myself hard physically to make some good gains. I got back to my tennis slowly to protect my arm, but it’s been a really productive few weeks now."
"It was disappointing to miss Toronto and Cincinnati, but I think it’s been a good period for me to reflect on things and improve."
Sometimes an injury timeout can actually be a blessing in disguise – giving players a chance to reset both physically and mentally.
Draper sounds genuinely refreshed about his upcoming return.
"I’m really looking forward to going out to the US Open, and I’m in a great place personally and tennis-wise. I feel refreshed, motivated, and I can’t wait to get back out there."
Ready to Challenge the Best
Despite spending weeks away from competition, Draper’s got his sights set on tennis’s current superstars.
He’s the highest-ranked player under 24 behind Alcaraz and Sinner – and he’s not intimidated by either of them.
"Jannik and Carlos are the best two players in the world right now. They are playing tennis, which is very exciting to watch; it’s electric. There are no holes in their game; they are so consistent and powerful."
But here’s where it gets interesting. Draper isn’t just admiring from afar.
"They are leading the way, but there are players like me who are hungry to go beyond their level and will do anything to get to where they are playing. I’m looking forward to many more matchups with them to come."
That’s the kind of confidence you want to hear from a top British player.
ATP Finals Still Within Reach
Missing two massive tournaments would normally kill your chances of making the ATP Finals. But Draper’s still in a pretty solid position.
He’s currently seventh in the 2025 ATP Race – and only the top eight players qualify for the year-end championship in Turin.
The math actually works in his favor. Draper’s got a 270-point cushion over ninth-place Lorenzo Musetti, which gives him some breathing room heading into the US Open and beyond.
It would be his debut at the prestigious year-end event.
"The ATP Finals is definitely something I’ve got my eyes on. At the start of the year, it was one of my goals because if you make the Finals, you’ve had a very consistent season."
Making the ATP Finals is basically tennis’s way of saying you’ve been one of the eight best players all year long. Not bad for a 23-year-old who many people still consider a rising star rather than an established force.
"Obviously, I’ve picked up an injury and missed a few tournaments, but like always, I’m going to give it my best. My preparation has been great, I keep on improving, and if I make it, great, but if I don’t, life moves on, and I’ll keep striving to be better."
That’s a refreshingly mature outlook from someone who could easily be frustrated about the timing of his injury.
The US Open will be Draper’s first real test since that disappointing Wimbledon exit. If he’s truly as refreshed and motivated as he claims, it could be the perfect stage for a statement performance.
