The most talented player once again 'befriends the hospital bed'

The brightest star of British tennis in the post-Andy Murray era has only played 13 matches this year.

Difficulties still haven't let go of Jack Draper as he once again had to withdraw from the ATP 500 Mubadala DC Open due to injury. Although ready to return after a long period of treatment, a recurring issue in his arm forced the former world No. 4 to postpone his comeback just one day before his opening match against Alex Michelsen.

As of now, Draper has only played 13 matches in 2026. The exceptionally talented Englishman started the season late due to injury and missed the Australian Open. After returning, he showed signs of revival by reaching the quarterfinals at Indian Wells, including an impressive victory over Novak Djokovic in the fourth round.

However, bad luck continued to haunt him as he suffered a knee injury at the Barcelona Open, forcing him to miss the rest of the clay court season, including Roland Garros.

His return on grass at the Eastbourne Open once brought much hope. Draper played impressively to reach the semifinals and was expected to participate in Wimbledon. However, a lingering forearm injury forced him to withdraw just before the Grand Slam on home soil.

Continuing to miss the Mubadala DC Open makes the comeback journey of the 2001-born player even more difficult. On his personal page, the British star shared an emotional reflection about the period of constantly facing injuries.

"The past months have been nothing but challenges and setbacks. There were many days I lived in doubt, but I always hoped I could keep moving forward and become better. I learned to accept things, be patient with the recovery process, and be grateful for the lessons it brings. Fortunately, I have always had wonderful people by my side to help me through this difficult time. So, I will not give up.", Draper wrote.

Repeatedly missing major tournaments has caused Draper to drop out of the ATP top 100 and made him unable to participate in the Rogers Cup, Cincinnati Open, and the US Open this year (Draper does not qualify for these tournaments using a protected ranking).

For now, the British player has registered for the ATP 75 Challenger in Brownsburg (USA), starting on August 10. However, with his injury not fully recovered, whether Draper can return in time for competition remains a big question mark.