Jack Draper Delays Comeback, Withdraws from UTS Final in London

British number one Jack Draper has been forced to delay his return from an arm injury, pulling out of this weekend’s Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) Grand Final in London. The decision is a setback for the 23-year-old’s preparations for the 2026 season.

Draper has played only one singles match since Wimbledon due to discomfort in his upper left serving arm, first felt during the clay-court season. After a scan post-Wimbledon, he refrained from serving for a month.

His attempted comeback at the US Open was short-lived. After competing in mixed doubles and winning his first-round singles match, he withdrew from the tournament due to persistent pain.

---

---

UTS Withdrawal

In a social media statement, Draper expressed his frustration: “I’ve been working hard to get ready for the UTS but frustratingly I’m just not quite ready. It’s a tough call as I want nothing more than to compete but I’ve been advised to take more time.”

The London event would have offered valuable match practice against top-20 players like Alex de Minaur, Casper Ruud, and Andrey Rublev in a fast-paced format.

Expert Insight on the Injury

UTS founder Patrick Mouratoglou, who awarded Draper a wildcard, had previously highlighted the seriousness of the injury in an October interview with the BBC: “You can’t play on a bone bruise because the next stage is a stress fracture. You need to stop completely and wait until it’s completely clean again.”

What’s Next for Jack Draper?

Draper is now targeting a return at the United Cup team competition in Perth during the first week of January 2026. This will serve as his lead-up to the Australian Open, which begins on January 18th in Melbourne.

The left-hander reached a career-high world ranking of No. 4 in June 2025 following a breakthrough first half of the year that included his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells. He currently sits at world No. 10.

Fans and analysts will closely monitor his recovery, hoping the extra rest ensures a full and competitive return for one of Britain’s top tennis prospects.

---

Shop with us

---