Draper’s Davis Cup ‘Miracle’ Return Exposed: Leaked Scans Reveal The Risky Truth The GB Captain Desperately Tried To Hide Due To…
Jack Draper is set to return to action after over five months out with injury in Great Britain’s Davis Cup tie against Norway in February.
The British number one had hoped to play at this month’s Australian Open but withdrew on Boxing Day because of his ongoing arm injury.
Currently ranked 10 in the world, Draper has played only one singles match since Wimbledon.
Great Britain captain Leon Smith said the left-hander’s inclusion enables him to name his “strongest team” for the qualifier, which will be played in Oslo on 5 and 6 February.
Cameron Norrie, Jacob Fearnley, Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash are also in the squad, while Norway will be led by world number 12 and three-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud.
The winner will face either Australia or Ecuador in the competition’s second qualifying round in September.
In a post on X late last month,, external Draper described the injury as one of the most “challenging” and “complex” of his career.
He said the decision not to compete in the Australian Open, which begins on 18 January, had been “really, really tough”.
Draper struggled with discomfort in the top part of his serving arm – his left – for several months, eventually shutting down his season after withdrawing from the US Open in August.
It came after a successful first part of the year, with Draper reaching a career-high of fourth in the world in June and also securing a maiden Masters 1000 title with victory at Indian Wells in March.
‘Nothing to lose for GB captain Smith’ – analysis
Smith is allowed to make three changes to his team up until the eve of the tie, and so has nothing to lose by naming Draper at this stage.
Draper said in his video on 26 December that he is at the “very, very end stages of the [recovery] process” and the hope is that he will finally be ready to go at the start of February.
He would need to play a maximum of two best-of-three set singles in Oslo, with five set tennis not a concern until the French Open begins in late May.
The team – if fit – is a very strong one.
Contrast it with the US team for their away tie on clay in Hungary – captain Bob Bryan has selected Ethan Quinn and Emilio Nava to play singles, even though there are currently 12 American men with a higher ranking.
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Who are Emma Raducanu’s United Cup teammates after Jack Draper’s withdrawal?
Jack Draper’s withdrawal from the Australian swing is a major setback for Great Britain’s United Cup hopes as Emma Raducanu is now the only top-100 singles player representing her country.
In October, it was announced that reigning Indian Wells Masters champion Draper and 2021 US Open winner Raducanu would lead Great Britain at the United Cup.
On paper, Great Britain had a very solid team and chances of making a run at the mixed team event.
But then, on Friday, Draper took to X to share that he was withdrawing from the United Cup and the Australian Open due to his ongoing left arm injury.
Now, Great Britain is set to be led by Raducanu, who will be accompanied by WTA world No. 275 Katie Swan and 126th-ranked ATP player Billy Harris. In doubles, the British side will still have a solid pair as their mixed doubles team will consist of world No. 9 Neal Skupski and 26th-ranked Olivia Nicholls.
Since Skupski is solely focused on playing doubles, that means that Harris will replace Draper in singles action.
What Draper said when announcing his United Cup withdrawal?
“Unfortunately, me and my team have decided not to head out to Australia this year. It’s a really, really tough decision, obviously (with) Australia being a Grand Slam, it’s one of the biggest tournaments in our sport,” the 24-year-old announced via a video message on Friday.
“However, I’ve had this injury for a long time, I’m at the very, very end stages of the process, and to step back on court into best-of-five-set tennis so soon just doesn’t seem like a smart decision right now for me and my tennis. I’ve obviously been through a fair amount of setbacks so far, but by far and away, this one has been the most difficult, the most challenging, and the most complex one that I’ve had.”
On January 4th, Great Britain will take on Japan in their opening United Cup match.
Raducanu will clash against Naomi Osaka, while Harris will likely take on Shintaro Mochizuki.
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