By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Jack Draper has announced he will miss next month’s Australian Open after admitting he is not quite ready for a return to top-level competition.
In a video posted on X, Draper said the injury, which ended his 2025 campaign early, is one of the most “challenging” and “complex” of his career.
“Unfortunately, me and my team have decided not to head out to Australia this year,” he said. “It was a really, really tough decision.”
“However, I’ve had this injury for a long time, I’m at the very, very end stages of the process and to step back on court into best-of-five-set tennis so soon just doesn’t seem like a smart decision right now for me and my tennis.
“I’ve obviously been through a fair amount of setbacks so far but by far and away, this one has been the most difficult, the most challenging and the most complex one that I’ve had.
“It’s weird, it always seems to make me more resilient, to make me hungrier to become the player I want to become even more.
“I’m looking forward to getting back out there in 2026 and competing. I just want to thank everyone for all the support in 2025. It means the world to me to be competing and to be playing out there on the tour with the other guys. I’m looking forward to doing that again. Take care everyone and thank you for the support.”
The Australian Open at Melbourne Park begins on 18 January.
In early December, world number 10 Draper also pulled out of the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) grand final in London, citing his frustration at not being “quite ready”.
Draper first felt discomfort in his upper left serving arm during the clay-court season in the spring, and while he attempted to return at the US Open in late August – playing alongside Jessica Pegula in the mixed doubles and winning his first-round match in the singles – he withdrew from the tournament because of the discomfort.