Jack Draper has pulled out of the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club as the former British No 1 continues his recovery from injury ahead of Wimbledon. Draper, who recently included Andy Murray in his new-look coaching set-up for the grasscourt season, is set to make his return at Eastbourne, which ends two days before play will get under way at Wimbledon. The former world No 4 has not played since mid-April, with his return from an eight-month arm injury hampered by a succession of withdrawals.
The 24-year-old missed the Monte-Carlo Masters and Madrid Open and saw his hopes of featuring at the French Open last month ended by a knee injury. What tennis is live on Sky Sports 🎾📺Download the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more 📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 “[My] Recovery is going in the right direction, but I’m going to give myself one more week and aim to return at Eastbourne,” Draper said in a
statement to Sky Sports. “Very hard to miss one of my favourite events of the year.” Will Draper feel more pressure with Murray in his corner? British players are thrown into the spotlight during the grasscourt season but Sky Sports Tennis’ Laura Robson wondered if the presence of Murray may have indirect consequences for Draper. “In some way it’s really beneficial that Andy’s in his corner but in other ways it’s more pressure as well,” she said. “I don’t know which way I’m leaning towards
still because there’s going to be so much attention now on that first match back, wherever it may be. That probably isn’t going to feel great, considering he’s not played a lot of tennis. It’s been a tough time with injuries over the last almost a year now. “To know, going in, that you’re expected by pretty much everyone to be playing well probably adds another layer to it but I haven’t quite decided which way I’m leaning there yet.” Four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman
said: “I was a little bit surprised that Jack and Jamie Delgado had split because they’ve been working together for a period of time but they haven’t had a massive amount of time at tournaments. “We saw them in Indian Wells and Jack looked like he was playing well, so that was definitely a surprise to me. “When I heard about Andy Murray coming in for the grasscourt season, I think that’s a great opportunity for Jack with Andy’s obvious experience as a player playing
at home; Queen’s, Wimbledon, his record speaks for itself, so definitely a good opportunity.” Watch the ATP and WTA Tours, live on Sky Sports or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports app. Find out more here.
Jack Draper, Queen's Club, HSBC Championships, Eastbourne, Wimbledon, injury recovery, Andy Murray, Laura Robson, Tim Henman, grasscourt season
So he’s skipping Queen’s Club but still wants to be ready for Wimbledon… sure, sounds legit.
Andy Murray coaching again like that doesn’t automatically fix everything 🙄. If he hasn’t played since mid-April then Eastbourne might just be a warmup where he loses anyway.
Wait knee injury stopped his French Open but now it’s an arm injury? I’m confused how the injuries switch like that lol. Also Murray in his corner = more pressure? That part feels backwards to me.
I don’t get why they’re making a big deal if he’s literally missing half the tournaments. Tennis players always say “one more week” like it’s no big thing. If he’s the former British No 1 why does it seem like he’s always on the injury list? Hope he can actually play at Wimbledon because the hype is already starting.