Draper sidelined from Madrid and Rome with persistent knee troubles

Jack Draper has withdrawn from this week’s Madrid Open and will additionally skip next month’s Italian Open owing to a knee tendon injury that has hampered his comeback on the ATP tour. The 24-year-old British player, who is continuing to recover from bone bruising that sidelined him from Wimbledon last year, retired from his only clay court match of the season in Barcelona following exacerbating the tendon problem. Draper’s latest setback comes only two months into his comeback, during which he has managed only eight matches. The injury compels him to abandon valuable ranking points in both Madrid and Rome, where he reached the final and quarter-finals respectively last year.

Withdrawal from prominent clay tournaments

Draper’s absence from Madrid and Rome constitutes a considerable setback to his clay court campaign and points defence. The British player had accumulated substantial ranking points in both tournaments during the prior year, attaining his maiden Masters 1000 final in Madrid before losing to Casper Ruud, and progressing to the last eight in Rome. By pulling out of both events, he will lose a combined 850 ranking points, a decline that risks to move him beyond the world’s top 70 and render him unseeded for the French Open and likely Wimbledon as well.

The occurrence of the injury is especially unfortunate given Draper’s strong comeback following his prolonged time away from the tour. His comeback had shown promise, including an impressive victory over Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells in March and a run to the quarter-finals at that event. However, the ongoing knee problem has forced him to reassess his schedule and prioritise recovery over immediate ranking points. Despite the frustration, Draper remains optimistic about competing at Roland Garros, with the French Open beginning on 24 May his main objective for the coming weeks.

• Draper reached Madrid final last year, defeated by Casper Ruud
• Quarter-final appearance in Rome last season now costs ranking points
• Personal best ranking of four in June now at risk from withdrawal
• Considering ATP event in Geneva or Hamburg before French Open

The setback from injury and recovery timeline

Draper’s knee tendon injury constitutes a fresh setback in what has been a difficult comeback period. The 24-year-old British player acknowledged the injury whilst maintaining cautious optimism about his chances at the French Open. “An aggravated tendon in my knee means I am unable to play in Madrid and Rome,” he explained. “It’s disappointing for sure, but I am grateful it isn’t anything more serious. I’m recovering well and I feel good about my chances of being fit for Roland Garros.” His comments suggest the injury, whilst significant enough to force withdrawal from two major tournaments, is not expected to derail his overall campaign this season.

The timing of the setback is especially frustrating given Draper’s latest advancement following his eight-month spell away from the tour caused by bone contusions in his left arm. His return had shown genuine promise, culminating in an impressive run to the Indian Wells last eight where he notably defeated world number one Novak Djokovic. However, the ongoing knee issue threatens to stall the momentum he had carefully rebuilt. Draper is weighing up an ATP event in Hamburg or Geneva in the week before the French Open, which commences on 24 May, as a way to develop competitive sharpness before his main goal.

Barcelona retirement signals escalating concern

The extent of Draper’s injury became apparent during his first-round match at the Barcelona Open, where he was forced to retire whilst losing to Spain’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry 4-1 in the concluding set. The strain of the injury was clear in his limited movement, causing his physio to affix supportive tape to the region beneath his right knee before the last set began. This was merely his fourth event back after his prolonged absence, suggesting the rigours of playing on clay have put excessive strain on his healing knee.

Draper had previously worn knee tape during his Indian Wells tournament in early March, suggesting the injury issue predates his Barcelona withdrawal. The fact that he was able to play through that tournament—despite the underlying problem—but was ultimately unable to continue in Barcelona suggests the problem has deteriorated rather than stabilised. This pattern of escalating discomfort raises questions about whether his comeback schedule was properly aligned to his physical readiness.

Ranking implications and tournament seeding

Draper’s withdrawal from Madrid and Rome presents significant consequences for his ATP ranking, with a aggregate sum of 850 ranking points now at danger of slipping from his record. The British player had gathered substantial points during his impressive performance at both tournaments last year, reaching his maiden clay court final in Madrid before losing to Casper Ruud, and then progressing to the quarter-finals in Rome. The loss of these defending points is likely to trigger a significant decline in his world ranking, probably moving him outside the top 70 for the first time since his rise to prominence last season.

The ranking slip will produce immediate effects for Draper’s seeding status at the upcoming Grand Slam tournaments. He is now virtually guaranteed to be unseeded for the French Open, a significant disadvantage on clay where seeding can prove crucial in navigating a draw. Similarly, his chances of keeping a seeding at Wimbledon—his home Grand Slam—appear ever more unlikely. This represents a stark contrast to his career high ranking of world number four reached in June last year, demonstrating how quickly injuries and missed tournaments can undermine earned gains in professional tennis.

• Draper’s peak ranking of fourth in the world achieved in 2025’s June.
• Madrid 2025 final appearance versus Casper Ruud represents significant defending points.
• Loss of seeding status complicates draw positioning at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

French Open aspirations regarding broader injury record

Despite the disappointment of skipping two major clay court tournaments, Draper has struck an optimistic tone regarding his chances at Roland Garros, which commences on 24 May. The British competitor has stated confidently that his recovery will progress sufficiently to enable him competitive readiness for the French Open, suggesting that the current knee tendon issue, whilst problematic, is not anticipated to derail his Grand Slam preparations completely. He is even considering entering a preparatory ATP event in Hamburg or Geneva during the week before the tournament, a decision that will eventually hinge on how his rehabilitation progresses over the following weeks.

Draper’s readiness to share his positive outlook on Paris shows a wider development in his handling of dealing with injuries. Rather than adopting a defeatist stance, he has recognised the setback whilst keeping things in perspective, observing that he is “thankful it isn’t anything more serious.” This balanced outlook implies he has acquired crucial understanding from earlier prolonged absences, recognising the significance of psychological strength together with physical recovery. His skill in isolating frustration and direct attention to mid-range targets may be equally important as his bodily recovery in determining whether he can recover the form that saw him reach a career-best ranking of world number four.

Record of physical problems across career

The ongoing knee injury constitutes merely the latest in a troubling sequence of health issues that have punctuated Draper’s professional journey. In 2023, he experienced a half-year break from the tour caused by a shoulder injury, a significant setback that prompted concerns about his robustness at the highest level. Subsequently, hip problems affected his training in the lead-up to 2025, though he successfully addressed these problems adequately to achieve a career-defining performance at Indian Wells, where he won his maiden Masters 1000 title and attained the Madrid final.

The bone damage that kept him out for an prolonged spell after Wimbledon last year, permitting only a single Davis Cup outing before his comeback in February, further highlights the fragility of his bodily state. Each injury has resulted in extended absences from competitive play, affecting rhythm and momentum at crucial junctures in the calendar. The combined impact of these persistent issues understandably prompts questions regarding whether Draper’s body can endure the relentless demands of elite-level tennis, notwithstanding his evident talent and competitive spirit.

British tennis players affected by injuries

Draper’s absence from the Madrid and Rome events leaves the British tennis contingent considerably weakened during the crucial spring clay court season. With Emma Raducanu also sidelined from Madrid as she continues her recovery from illness, only Katie Boulter and Cameron Norrie represent Great Britain at this week’s tournament. The simultaneous injuries to two of Britain’s most promising talents underscore the precarious nature of professional tennis, where the margin between elite competition and enforced absence remains frustratingly thin. Both players have shown considerable promise in recent seasons, and their absence from significant ranking events represents a notable blow to British tennis aspirations during this pivotal period of the calendar|key stage in the tennis calendar.

The timing of Draper’s absence is especially regrettable given the significant ranking points at stake in Madrid and Rome. He will lose 850 ranking points in both tournaments, a loss that is expected to see him drop outside the top 70 rankings from his current standing. This drop in the rankings carries significant implications for his seeding chances at the French Open and further afield, potentially affecting his seeding and tournament draw at Wimbledon in the latter stages of summer. The knock-on effects of missing these events go further than the immediate tournament results, shaping his progress through the rest of the season.

• Draper reached Madrid final and Rome last eight in previous year
• Raducanu absent from Madrid continuing illness rehabilitation plan
• Boulter and Norrie serve as sole British representatives at Madrid