Draper sidelined from Madrid and Rome with persistent knee troubles

Jack Draper has pulled out of this week’s Madrid Open and will additionally miss the forthcoming Italian Open owing to a knee tendon injury that has plagued his return to the ATP tour. The 24-year-old British player, who is still recovering from bone bruising that kept him out since 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 forces him to forfeit significant ranking points in both Madrid and Rome, where he reached the final and quarter-finals in turn last year.

Withdrawal from key clay tournaments

Draper’s absence from Madrid and Rome represents a significant blow to his clay-court efforts and points defence. The British player had amassed substantial ranking points in both tournaments during the previous year, reaching his first Masters 1000 final in Madrid before falling 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 push him outside the world’s top 70 and leave him unseeded for the French Open and probably Wimbledon as well.

The timing of the injury is particularly 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 progression to the quarter-finals at that event. However, the ongoing knee problem has forced him to reconsider his schedule and focus on rehabilitation over immediate ranking points. Despite the frustration, Draper remains optimistic about competing at Roland Garros, with the French Open beginning on 24 May his primary target for the coming weeks.

• Draper made it to Madrid final last year, defeated by Casper Ruud
• Reaching the quarter-finals in Rome last season now costs ranking points
• Personal best ranking of four in June now at risk from withdrawal
• Weighing up ATP event in Geneva or Hamburg before French Open

The injury-related setback and recovery timeline

Draper’s knee tendon injury constitutes a new complication in what has been a difficult return to competition. The 24-year-old British player confirmed the setback whilst expressing guarded hope about his prospects at the French Open. “An aggravated tendon in my knee means I am not able to play in Madrid and Rome,” he explained. “It’s disappointing for sure, but I am thankful it isn’t anything more serious. I’m recovering well and I am confident in my chances of being fit for Roland Garros.” His comments suggest the injury, whilst substantial enough to force withdrawal from two major tournaments, is not expected to derail his overall campaign this season.

The occurrence of the setback is particularly frustrating given Draper’s recent progress following his eight-month spell away from the tour due to bone bruising in his left serving arm. His comeback had shown genuine promise, resulting in an impressive run to the Indian Wells quarter-finals where he impressively beat top-ranked player Novak Djokovic. However, the ongoing knee issue risks derailing the progress he had steadily regained. Draper is weighing up an ATP event in either Hamburg or Geneva in the week before the French Open, which commences on 24 May, as a way to develop match fitness before his primary objective.

Barcelona retirement reflects escalating concern

The severity of Draper’s condition became apparent during his opening match at the Barcelona Open, where he was compelled to withdraw whilst down against Spain’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry 4-1 in the final set. The impact of the problem was evident in his restricted mobility, prompting his physio to place supportive strapping to the region beneath his right knee before the deciding set commenced. This was merely his fourth tournament back following his extended layoff, implying the pressures of competing on clay have put undue pressure on his healing knee.

Draper had earlier worn knee tape during his Indian Wells campaign in March early on, suggesting the injury issue predates his Barcelona withdrawal. The reality that he was able to play through that tournament—despite the underlying issue—but was eventually forced to withdraw in Barcelona implies the problem has deteriorated rather than stabilised. This trend of increasing pain raises questions about whether his return timetable was properly aligned to his physical readiness.

Ranking implications and tournament seeding

Draper’s withdrawal from Madrid and Rome presents substantial implications for his ATP ranking, with a aggregate sum of 850 ranking points now at risk of falling from his record. The British player had accumulated 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 subsequently advancing to the quarter-finals in Rome. The loss of these defending points is expected to precipitate a significant decline in his world ranking, likely pushing him outside the top 70 for the first time since his rise to prominence last season.

The ranking decline will create immediate consequences for Draper’s seeding status at the forthcoming major tournaments. He is now highly likely to be unseeded at the French Open, a significant disadvantage on clay where seeding can prove crucial in managing the bracket. Similarly, his prospects of retaining a seeding at Wimbledon—his home Grand Slam—appear progressively distant. This represents a stark contrast to his career high ranking of world number four achieved in June last year, demonstrating how swiftly injuries and missed events can erode hard-earned progress in professional tennis.

• Draper’s career high ranking of world number four achieved in 2025’s June.
• Madrid 2025 final appearance versus Casper Ruud constitutes substantial points to defend.
• Seeding status loss affects draw positioning at Roland Garros and Wimbledon tournaments.

French Open hopes and wider injury history

Despite the frustration of missing two significant clay court tournaments, Draper has adopted an optimistic tone regarding his prospects at Roland Garros, which commences on 24 May. The British player has stated confidently that his recuperation will progress adequately to allow him match fitness for the French Open, suggesting that the current knee tendon issue, whilst troublesome, is not anticipated to disrupt his Grand Slam preparations completely. He is even thinking about competing in a preparatory ATP event in either Hamburg or Geneva during the week preceding the tournament, a decision that will eventually hinge on how his recovery progresses over the following weeks.

Draper’s willingness to discuss his positive outlook on Paris reflects a greater sophistication in his handling of dealing with injuries. Rather than adopting a defeatist stance, he has recognised the setback whilst maintaining perspective, observing that he is “thankful it is not anything more significant.” This balanced outlook suggests he has learned valuable lessons from previous extended absences, understanding the value of emotional fortitude together with bodily rehabilitation. His ability to compartmentalise frustration and direct attention to medium-term objectives may prove as crucial as his physical recuperation in ascertaining whether he can regain the level that saw him reach a career-best ranking of world number four.

Record of physical problems across career

The current knee injury represents merely the latest in a troubling sequence of physical ailments that have dotted Draper’s professional journey. In 2023, he suffered a six-month lay-off from the tour resulting from a shoulder injury, a major disruption that prompted concerns about his durability at the highest level. Subsequently, hip troubles affected his training leading up to 2025, though he was able to resolve these problems sufficiently to achieve a career-defining performance at Indian Wells, where he won his inaugural Masters 1000 title and reached the Madrid final.

The bone damage that sidelined him for an prolonged spell after Wimbledon last year, allowing only a single Davis Cup appearance before his comeback in February, further highlights the vulnerability of his bodily state. Each injury has forced extended absences from competition, disrupting rhythm and momentum at critical moments in the season. The combined impact of these persistent issues understandably prompts questions regarding whether Draper’s body can withstand the relentless demands of professional tennis, notwithstanding his evident talent and competitive spirit.

British tennis team 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 scheduling of Draper’s withdrawal is especially regrettable given the significant ranking points at stake in Madrid and Rome. He will lose 850 ranking points across the two tournaments, a decline anticipated to see him fall beyond the top 70 rankings from his present position. This descent in the rankings carries substantial consequences for his seeding chances at the French Open and further afield, possibly impacting his seeding and tournament draw at Wimbledon in the latter stages of summer. The knock-on effects of skipping these tournaments extend beyond the direct tournament outcomes, shaping his progress through the remainder of the season.

• Draper reached Madrid final and Rome last eight in previous year
• Raducanu absent from Madrid as part of illness recovery programme
• Boulter and Norrie represent sole British representatives at Madrid