Jack Draper has just withdrawn from the Australian Open, just days after confirming that he would play in Australia.
The world No. 10, who sustained a left arm injury during Wimbledon, tried to return during the US Open but played only one match before shutting down his 2025 season.
In the meantime, Draper signed up to represent Great Britain with Emma Raducanu at the United Cup. After making his United Cup debut, the 24-year-old was scheduled to make his fourth Australian Open appearance.
In early December, the reigning Indian Wells champion pulled out of the UTS London. Last week, rumors started to swirl around that the Briton may not be ready to return at the start of 2026. In a video that was posted earlier this week, he shut down those rumors.
But now, the three-time ATP champion uploaded a video message to his X account, where he announced his withdrawal from the United Cup and the Australian Open. The former world No. 4 said that he and his team decided that not playing in Australia was the best move for him, also noted that he was at the end stage of his recovery.
— jack draper (@jackdraper0) December 26, 2025
What Draper said in a viral video about his Australian Open participation?
When asked directly if he would play in Australia a couple of days ago, Draper directly said that he would.
“I’ll be playing in Australia, yeah… It’s not been the easiest time for me because I was coming up, I was feeling like I was in a really good place right at the top, and then something like this happens and I guess you either stand still and let it get the best of you or you keep on going. And I think, yeah, that’s just a constant wheel, that’s just a constant wave. You know, you’re successful then you’re going to struggle and then you get successful again. But you have to keep at it mentally, so I feel like I’ve done that pretty well," the world No. 10 said a few days ago.
“I’ll be competing in Australia” IN – IN!!!! DRAPER NATION WE ARE SO BACK pic.twitter.com/wUCYgH5H25
— Caitlin (@courtsidewithcp) December 23, 2025
For Great Britain, not having the Indian Wells Masters champion at the United Cup is a huge setback for their chances of making a deep run.
It remains to be seen if Draper will be ready to play again in February.
