Jack Draper ends season early to focus on recovery

Former world number four Jack Draper will not play again this season as he focuses on recovering from a persistent bone-bruising injury in his serving arm.

The 24-year-old Briton, who missed the US Open, said he is targeting a return to the ATP Tour at the start of next year after playing just nine events since last year’s Wimbledon.

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Draper’s latest appearances came in Montreal and Cincinnati last month, where he suffered first-round defeats. He was visibly emotional during his loss to France’s Terence Atmane in Montreal.

“I am taking this time to reset and heal so when I return I am 100% ready to go,” Draper wrote on Instagram.

“Tennis is my purpose and passion and so when I step back on court I want to make sure that there’s nothing holding me back from where I want to go.”

Draper’s current world ranking has fallen to 155, meaning he will not benefit from a protected ranking if he returns in January. Under the rules, players must be sidelined for more than six months to retain the ranking they held when they left the tour.

As a result, Draper could need wildcards or qualify for Grand Slam and ATP Tour events when he returns.

The Briton reached a career-high fourth in the world in June last year after winning his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells and reaching the final in Madrid.

“Last summer, all the dedication and work I had put into this sport was coming together,” Draper said.

“It was all going my way and the path seemed so clear. However a complicated injury made things incredibly challenging, and since that moment I’ve been desperately trying to get back and feel as I once did on the court.”

He added that dealing with the injury and its physical and mental effects had left him feeling fatigued, despite helping him grow personally.

Draper has recently taken time away from tennis, including a holiday with friends, as he looks to give himself a mental break while continuing his recovery.

He is expected to gradually resume training in the coming weeks while his team investigates the main causes of the injury.

Draper has also made changes to his equipment and playing style in an attempt to reduce the strain on his arm. He has experimented with natural-gut strings after previously using polyester, switched to a lighter racquet and made adjustments to his serve.

His diet is also being assessed as part of efforts to identify any factors that could be contributing to the problem.

Andy Murray remains part of Draper’s coaching team but is expected to spend only a limited number of weeks on the road, meaning additional coaching support will be required.

Draper has previously worked with LTA coaches James Trotman and Alex Lisiecki, and his team will need to find a permanent coach to work alongside Murray when he returns.

When Draper eventually resumes competition, his schedule is likely to be carefully managed, particularly because the bone bruising may not have completely healed and of wider concerns about the physical demands of modern professional tennis.