Jack Draper injury setback forces Madrid and Rome withdrawals ahead of French Open push

The 24-year-old has endured a stop-start return to the tour in recent months, and his latest setback comes at a crucial stage of the season. Having already skipped the Monte Carlo Masters, Draper's only appearance on clay ended prematurely when he retired from his opening-round match in Barcelona against Tomas Martin Etcheverry while trailing in the deciding set.

The issue, which required heavy strapping around his right knee, has now forced him to withdraw from the next two Masters 1000 events on the calendar. Despite the frustration, Draper remains optimistic about the severity of the injury and his chances of returning in time for Roland Garros.

"An aggravated tendon in my knee means I am not able to play in Madrid and Rome," he said. "It's frustrating for sure, but I am thankful it isn't anything more serious. Recovery is going well and I feel good about my chances of being fit for Roland Garros. I am looking forward to building momentum from there."

His absence from Madrid and Rome carries major ranking implications. Draper was a finalist in Madrid last year and followed that with a quarter-final run in Rome, meaning he stands to lose 850 ranking points. That drop is expected to push him well outside the top 50-and potentially beyond the top 70-leaving him unseeded for the French Open and likely Wimbledon as well.

It continues a difficult period for the former world No. 4, whose progress has repeatedly been interrupted by injuries. He missed a large portion of the 2023 season with a shoulder problem and also battled hip issues before producing a strong resurgence that included a Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells and a run to the US Open semi-finals. However, bone bruising in his left arm after Wimbledon restricted him to just one singles match in the latter half of last season.

This year, Draper has attempted to carefully manage his schedule, compiling a modest run of matches highlighted by a quarter-final appearance at Indian Wells - where he notably defeated Novak Djokovic - but his transition to clay has proven problematic.

With limited opportunities left to gain match fitness before the French Open begins on 24 May, Draper is now considering a return at one of the final warm-up events, either in Hamburg or Geneva, the week before the Paris Grand Slam.

Reflecting on his repeated spells on the sidelines, Draper has spoken about gaining perspective during his time away from the sport.

"I've kind of taken a step back from tennis in this period," he said earlier this year. "Tennis is a bubble, and sometimes you can get distracted that it's all that matters in life. When I have time out, I use it wisely to make sure that when I try and come back to tennis, that I'm ready to go all the way again."

Draper is not the only notable absentee from Madrid, with several high-profile names - including Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu - also sidelined, underlining the physical toll of the early-season schedule.

READ MORE: Pieter Coetze happy with five National Championships titles in Gqeberha