Return delayed! World No.10 Draper withdraws again from the 2026 Australian Open

On Friday local time, British tennis player Draper, currently ranked No.10 in the world, announced in a video posted on social media that he will postpone the start of his 2026 season. The 24-year-old has been struggling with a left arm humerus bone contusion since the clay court season this year, and he stated he will also miss the United Cup and the Australian Open to prioritize his long-term health.

This left-handed British player competed in only one tournament after this year’s Wimbledon; he withdrew immediately after winning the first round at the US Open and did not compete for the rest of the 2025 season. Draper had initially planned to participate in two exhibition events this month—the London UTS Finals and the MGM Macau Tennis Legends—but he withdrew just before these events, deciding to make his comeback during the Australian season. However, as his recovery is not yet complete, Draper will miss the first Grand Slam of the year once again.

Injuries have consistently affected Draper’s career, with shoulder and abdominal issues disrupting his 2023 and 2024 seasons. He described this current injury as the "most challenging and complex" he has faced so far in his career.

In the video, Draper said: "Unfortunately, my team and I have decided not to travel to Australia to compete. This was an extremely difficult decision because the Australian Open is one of the most important tournaments in our sport, but this injury has been troubling me for a long time. Although I am now in the final stages of rehabilitation, rushing back to play best-of-five matches at this point would not be wise for me personally or for my tennis career. I have faced many setbacks in my career, but this injury is undoubtedly the toughest and most complicated challenge I have encountered so far."

He added that these experiences motivate him to become a better player and that he looks forward to a successful return next year: "These setbacks always seem to make me tougher and more determined to improve, inspiring me to become the player I aspire to be. I am eager to return to the court in 2026 and showcase my skills again."

In the 2025 season, Draper achieved a 30-9 win-loss record. He won his first Masters title at Indian Wells this year, reaching a career-high world ranking of No.4 in June. Additionally, he recorded several notable results including runner-up finishes at the Madrid Masters and Doha, a semifinal appearance at the Queen’s Club, and a quarterfinal at the Rome Masters.

(Text and editing by Wang Fei, images courtesy of Visual China)