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By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, December 26, 2025Photo credit score: Tony Chang/Chang Pictures
Jack Draper’s Australian Open hopes are over earlier than the match begins.
Indian Wells champion Draper introduced he’s withdrawn from the 2026 Australian Open as he continues restoration from a left arm harm.
Although Draper stated he feels he’s nearing the tip of the restoration course of, he concedes this harm has been “complicated” and “difficult” and believes it will not be clever to attempt to play best-of-five-set AO matches with out feeling his arm is totally healed.
pic.twitter.com/giFCnLAPVI
— jack draper (@jackdraper0) December 26, 2025
“Sadly, me and my workforce have determined to not head out to Australia this 12 months,” Draper stated in a video posted on X immediately. “It was a extremely, actually robust resolution.”
The left-handed Draper has been restricted to 1 singles match since his Wimbledon loss to Marin Cilic final summer time. Draper performed the US Open blended doubles occasion however was clearly compromised on serve and attempting to hit overheads.
Draper conceded a walkover to Zizou Bergs earlier than their scheduled US Open second-round conflict in August and has not performed since his US Open first-round win over Federico Gomez.
The Australian Open predominant draw is ready for January 18th-February 1st. Finally, Draper stated he’s simply not bodily able to play a Grand Slam.
“Clearly, with Australia being a Grand Slam, it’s one of many largest tournaments in our sport,” Draper stated in his video on X. “Nevertheless, I’ve had this harm for a very long time. I’m on the very, very finish phases of the [recovery] course of and to step again on court docket into best-of-five-set tennis so quickly simply doesn’t seem to be a smart move proper now for me and my tennis.
“I’ve clearly been by a good quantity of setbacks however by far, this one has been probably the most tough, probably the most difficult, probably the most complicated one which I’ve had.”
The 23-year-old Briton reached the AO spherical of 16 final January the place he retired to Carlos Alcaraz trailing 5-7, 1-6.
Two months later, Draper defeated Alcaraz 6-1, 0-6, 6-4, within the Indian Wells semifinals then swept Holger Rune within the ultimate, 6-2, 6-2, to seize his maiden ATP Masters 1000 championship.
Rune ruptured his Achilles tendon in October so neither Draper nor Rune, two of the game’s brilliant younger stars, will likely be enjoying the 2026 Australian Open.
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