British tennis star Jack Draper enjoyed a breakthrough year that saw him rise to a career-high world ranking of No. 4, but his momentum was abruptly halted by an injury that has kept him off the court since August. Draper’s most recent competitive appearance came at the US Open, where his tournament ended prematurely after he was forced to withdraw during his second-round match due to severe discomfort in his arm. Medical evaluations later revealed that he was suffering from a bone edema in his left arm, an issue serious enough to require an extended recovery period.
Following the diagnosis, Draper made the difficult decision to shut down his season early in order to prioritize his long-term health. Rather than risk further damage, the British No. 1 opted to skip the remainder of the competitive calendar and focus entirely on rehabilitation. At the time, the decision was viewed as a precautionary move, with hopes that he would return fully fit for the start of the new season.
Draper was initially scheduled to make his comeback at the Macau Tennis Masters, an exhibition event set to take place on December 27 and 28. The tournament was expected to provide him with valuable match practice ahead of the Australian Open. However, organizers later confirmed that Draper had withdrawn from the event. Czech player Jakub Mensik also pulled out, with both vacancies being filled by France’s Ugo Humbert and China’s Yibing Wu.
This was not the first time Draper had stepped away from a planned exhibition during his recovery. Earlier in December, he had also withdrawn from the Ultimate Tennis Showdown, a friendly tournament held in London from December 5 to 7. The repeated absences have fueled speculation about the extent of his injury and whether he will be fully prepared in time for the first Grand Slam of the year.
As a result, doubts are growing over Draper’s availability for the Australian Open. The tournament holds mixed memories for the Brit, as he reached the fourth round in the 2025 edition but was ultimately forced to retire from his match. With the Melbourne major fast approaching, the lack of competitive play raises concerns about both his fitness and match readiness should he decide to compete.
Despite the frustrating end to his season, Draper’s 2025 campaign remains the most successful of his young career. He captured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells, a landmark achievement that firmly established him among the elite players on tour. He followed that success with an impressive run to the final of the Madrid Open, further solidifying his rise in the rankings.
Those standout performances propelled Draper to world No. 4, the highest ranking achieved by the British player to date. However, his prolonged absence from competition has taken a toll on his position, causing him to slide down to world No. 10. While the drop is understandable given his time away, the priority remains his recovery, as Draper looks to return to full strength and resume his ascent on the ATP Tour in the new season.
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