Jack Draper has officially pulled out of the French Open, citing a knee injury he sustained earlier this month in Barcelona. The 24-year-old British player expressed his disappointment but emphasized the importance of taking the necessary time to recover properly. “My knee is on the mend, and I’ve started back hitting balls,” Draper remarked. “However, I have been advised not to compete at Roland Garros. As gutting as it is to miss another slam, the advice is not to rush straight back into playing five-set tennis on clay.”
Draper’s injury woes reflect a challenging trajectory for his career, as he navigated similar setbacks last year. Following a promising performance at Indian Wells, where he captured the title and notably defeated Novak Djokovic, Draper’s competitive momentum has stalled. Since that quarterfinal match in the desert, Draper has not managed to secure a victory, recording three consecutive losses and retiring against Tomas Martin Etcheverry in Barcelona.
Ranked No. 28 in the world, Draper has not participated in a Grand Slam since the first round of the U.S. Open last summer. He withdrew ahead of his second-round match and also missed the Australian Open earlier this season. His absence from Roland Garros opens the door for other players seeking to improve their rankings and gain a seed for the tournament.
With the Italian Open still to take place, the competition intensifies among players like Ugo Humbert (currently ranked No. 33), Rafael Jodar (No. 34), and Alexander Blockx (No. 35). Jodar recently made it to the quarterfinals in Madrid, while Blockx is currently in the semifinals after a victory over Casper Ruud. The race to secure a better position for the French Open will certainly be intriguing as the tournament approaches.
