Jack Draper has pulled out of the French Open after knee tendon problems forced his retirement in Barcelona earlier this month. The former British No. 1 opts to skip the five-set clay court Grand Slam to prioritize recovery, aiming for a comeback at the grass-court season opener in Stuttgart or Queen’s Club in London.

Draper’s Heartfelt Announcement

Draper expressed his disappointment on social media, stating he feels ‘gutted’ to miss his second major of the year. ‘My knee is on the mend and I’ve started back hitting balls but unfortunately I have been advised not to play Roland Garros,’ he wrote. ‘As gutting as it is to miss another slam, the advice is not to rush straight back into playing five set tennis on clay. Off the back of the arm injury I sustained last year, I’ve been restricted with my training and by giving myself the time to heal and build, I can be the player I want to be out there once again. See you soon!’

This marks the end of his clay season after just one match.

Injury Challenges Persist

Following his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells last year and a career-high ranking of world No. 4, Draper’s progress stalls due to recurring injuries. In September, the 24-year-old withdrew before his US Open second-round match against Zizou Bergs because of a bruised bone in his serving arm, cutting his season short. He returned in Dubai this February after six months out but has competed in only eight tour matches since, including one walkover.

In a prior statement from Barcelona, Draper pledged to ‘work his way out’ of this tough period that challenges his resilience.

Expert Commentary and British Tennis Struggles

Persistent injuries frustrate observers, given Draper’s potential as a rival to top stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Former world No. 3 Juan Martin del Potro, whose career faced similar setbacks, commented last week, ‘Well, as a lefty player, he has an advantage over the rest of the players. Draper is a talented player as well, but sometimes the body could be the worst thing in your career.’

British tennis faces further setbacks, with compatriot Emma Raducanu sidelined since last month’s Miami Open. The 2021 US Open champion, recovering from a February viral illness, has yet to play clay this season and has not confirmed her French Open status.