Australian Open, Jack Draper explains the reasons for his forfeit

Jack Draper will not be at the start of the 2025 edition of the Australian Open. In fact, the London-based tennis player, a semifinalist at the 2024 U.S. Open (defeated by Jannik Sinner, later winner of that tournament), has been forced to raise the white flag due to the recurrence of physical problems that have affected not only the second half of the season just past, but also the recovery plan toward 2026. Draper went into detail about his reasons with a message to his followers on social media.

“Unfortunately, my team and I decided not to leave for Australia this year’– began the current No. 10 in the ATP rankings -. It was not an easy decision: the’Australian Open is one of the most important tournaments in our sport, but I have long been conditioned by the consequences of my injuries and am currently in the final stage of my recovery, and returning to the court in a tournament with best-of-five-set matches would not be the smartest choice to make upon returning to the court”.

“I have had a difficult time dealing with physical problems– Draper added -I want this to help me become an even better player, however, and I can&#8217t wait to get back on the court, but for now I can only thank everyone for their support during this not easy time. My goal is to get back to competing on the Tour, to find my colleagues as soon as possible in the best condition” Draper then concluded, who will therefore not even play the United Cup, where he had been entered to represent Great Britain.

A Class of 2001, capable of climbing up to the fourth ranking position in June 2025, Jack Draper has not taken the court in an official match since last August 25, when at the US Open he beat Argentine Federico Agustin Gomez in the first round in four sets. From there, the ordeal, with his withdrawal from the next round and prolonged absence from the courts.

The year 2025 had begun with quite different prospects.

Draper, in fact, had won his first career Masters 1000 in Indian Wells in March, overcoming Holger Rune in the final with a 6-2 double. Previously, the Briton had won two tournaments in 2024, the Stuttgart ATP 250 (beating Matteo Berrettini in the final) and the Vienna ATP 500 (Karen Khachanov beaten in the final act).