British tennis hopeful Jack Draper is poised to make his long-awaited return to competitive action at the Eastbourne International next week, following an injury absence that has kept him off court since early April. The 24-year-old's comeback will mark his first tournament under the guidance of new coach Andy Murray, the three-time Grand Slam singles champion, who joined Draper's team last month.
Draper, who withdrew from Queen's last week, is now reportedly feeling ready to compete and prove his fitness ahead of Wimbledon, which commences on 29th June. His progress has been significantly hampered by a series of injuries, including bone bruising in his serving arm and a recent knee injury sustained at the Barcelona Open. These setbacks have seen him drop out of the world's top 100, having played only 11 matches in the past year.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Murray expressed his desire for a long-term coaching partnership with Draper. "I hope so. I think the number one priority for Jack and the team just now is getting him back on the match court, competing and gaining trust in his body again," Murray stated. He added, "I've been incredibly impressed with his tennis on the practice court. He's a super quick learner and a brilliant player as well. [I have] no doubt that when he gets back on the match court he will perform well and win matches at the highest level."
Concurrently, fellow British star Emma Raducanu has decided against accepting a wildcard to play in Eastbourne. The British women's number one, who recently reached the final at Queen's, will instead continue her Wimbledon preparations on the practice courts. This decision allows her to manage her workload and fine-tune her game with coach Andrew Richardson after a period affected by a viral illness.
The Eastbourne International, a combined ATP-WTA event, will feature several other British wildcards, including Arthur Fery, Jacob Fearnley, Jack Pinnington Jones, Francesca Jones, Alicia Dudeney, and Hannah Klugman. Draper's participation is considered crucial for him to gain vital match practice in a best-of-three set format before tackling the more physically demanding best-of-five set matches at the All England Club.
Draper has a known history of physical issues, and his decision to return now suggests confidence in his recovery, having worked intensively with Murray on the practice courts at the National Tennis Centre in London. The focus for him remains on consistent competition to challenge at the sport's highest levels, a goal Murray believes he is capable of achieving.
Source: BBC Sport