Draper Prioritizes Health Over Monte Carlo

Jack Draper, the 2024 US Open semi-finalist, has withdrawn from next week's Monte Carlo Masters. This decision stems from his ongoing recovery from a significant arm injury, specifically a bruised humerus bone, which previously kept him sidelined for six months. Draper has recently returned to competitive play, participating in three events over five weeks. He achieved a notable victory against Novak Djokovic en route to the Indian Wells quarter-finals. However, he is taking a precautionary approach to manage his return, opting to train in London instead of participating in the prestigious clay-court event which marks the start of the European clay-court season on April 5th. This cautious strategy is a continuation of a 'better safe than sorry' approach by Draper and his team, given the complexity of his injury and past physical issues.

Draper's absence from Monte Carlo follows withdrawals by other top players like Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz. The injury affected his serving arm, causing discomfort during last year's clay-court swing, which led to his withdrawal from the US Open and the curtailment of his 2025 season. As a result of his prolonged absence, Draper has dropped to 25th in the rankings, with Cameron Norrie now the British number one. Despite this setback, there are no indications of serious concern, with Draper training on court and targeting a return at the Barcelona Open in two weeks.