British tennis star Jack Draper has been forced to withdraw from the French Open and the remainder of the clay-court season due to a persistent knee injury, dashing hopes of a strong run at Roland Garros.
The 24-year-old, who soared to a career-high ranking of world No. 4 earlier this year after winning the Indian Wells Masters, will now shift focus to the grass-court campaign starting in June. However, by then he is expected to drop outside the top 100 as ranking points from last year's Madrid runner-up finish and Italian Open quarter-final go unguarded.
Draper played just one match on clay this season, retiring in Barcelona earlier this month with a tendon issue in his right knee. He subsequently skipped Masters events in Madrid and Rome, but had spoken optimistically about being ready for the French Open.
"My knee is on the mend and I've started back hitting balls but unfortunately I have been advised not to play Roland Garros," Draper posted on Instagram. "As gutting as it is to miss another Slam, the advice is not to rush straight back into playing five set tennis on clay."
The setback comes on the heels of a long layoff due to bone bruising in his serving arm, which sidelined him from all but one match after Wimbledon last year until his return in 2025. Draper's career has been punctuated by injuries to his shoulder, hip, arm, and now knee.
"Off the back of the arm injury, 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," he added.
Draper, currently ranked 28th, will drop to around 50th after this week's Madrid Open. His inability to defend 650 points from last year's final, plus points from the Italian Open and Roland Garros, will compound the ranking slide. The US Open semi-finalist from 2024 now stands little chance of being seeded at Wimbledon, likely facing a top seed early in the tournament.
If fit, Draper could kick off his grass season at Stuttgart on June 8—where he won the title two years ago—before competing at Queen's Club in London. But his primary concern remains long-term health: getting fully fit and staying that way.
Draper's explosive first half of 2025 included a stunning win over Novak Djokovic en route to the Indian Wells quarter-finals, cementing his potential to challenge the sport's elite. Yet his recurring injury woes continue to overshadow his promise.