Jack Draper withdraws from training.© (@TheTennisLetter )
British tennis star Jack Draper has withdrawn from a planned training week with Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz due to a minor hip injury. Draper, currently focused on gym work, had been scheduled to train in Spain next week but decided to prioritize his recovery.
The 22-year-old, who is part of Great Britain’s United Cup team, is unsure if he will be fit to compete in the event starting on December 27. The Australian Open, where Draper aims to perform at his best, begins on January 12.
“I’ve been working incredibly hard to improve for next year,” Draper said. “But I felt a little niggle in my hip. Training at such high intensity with Carlos wouldn’t be fair if I’m not 100% ready.”
Draper emphasized the importance of exposure to top-level competition to prepare for 2024. He called the opportunity to train with Alcaraz a missed chance he and coach James Trotman had been excited about.
This injury, Draper clarified, is different from the hip problem that sidelined him earlier in 2023. Draper has had a strong year despite this setback, rising to world No. 15 and securing ATP titles in Stuttgart and Vienna.
Draper spoke at a Memory Walk in London in support of the Alzheimer’s Society, where he is an ambassador. He shared heartfelt praise for his grandfather, the primary caregiver for Draper’s grandmother, who battles the disease, calling him “an absolute hero.”
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While the timing of the injury is frustrating, Draper remains determined to recover and build on the past year’s successes.
