Wimbledon 2026: Jack Draper withdraws day before first-round match as injury struggles continue

Britain's Jack Draper says he is "devastated" after withdrawing from Wimbledon just 24 hours before his first-round match with a long-term arm injury.

Draper, fresh off a run to the Eastbourne semi-finals last week, was due to face American sixth seed Taylor Fritz on Centre Court on Tuesday.

However, the arm problem that stopped him playing for most of the past year has once again prevented him from competing in a Grand Slam.

"I'm devastated to share that I have had to withdraw from my first round match due to a recurrence of my arm injury," said Draper.

"There have been a lot of painful moments in the last 12 months, but this one is definitely the absolute worst."

It is the second significant injury blow for British interest, following Emma Raducanu's withdrawal on Sunday because of a stress fracture in her right leg.

Draper spoke to media at Wimbledon on Sunday and gave no indication he was struggling again with the bone bruising in his serving arm.

However, Draper did say he felt the amount of injuries suffered by leading players is "pretty worrying".

The 24-year-old said of his injury setbacks: "It's been an incredibly long process.

"It's taken a lot out of me mentally coming back and back and back."

Former British number one Draper has only played 15 matches in the past 12 months, largely because of the bruised humerus that has been bothering him for over a year.

His initial comeback earlier this season was derailed by tendinitis in his knee and the 2024 US Open semi-finalist had not played for over two months before his return at Eastbourne last week.

Missing a third successive Grand Slam tournament - particularly his home major - is a huge blow.

The former world number four, who is now ranked 131st, has not played a major since the US Open in August.

The arm problem first flared up during the 2025 clay-court season and he struggled with the issue at last year's Wimbledon, where he lost to Croat veteran Marin Cilic in the second round.

After winning one match at Flushing Meadows in New York, he decided he could not continue in the tournament and ultimately ended his season early.

Draper made his return to the ATP Tour in February and reached the quarter-finals at Indian Wells in March, where he was the defending champion - and beat Novak Djokovic on the way.

However, he retired from his only match of the clay swing in Barcelona in April.

After skipping the rest of the clay season, Draper withdrew from Queen's, saying his recovery was "going in the right direction" but he needed "one more week" before returning at Eastbourne.

He practised at Wimbledon over the weekend but did not take to the court on Monday and withdrew shortly afterwards.

"It is so frustrating when you think this time last year Draper was playing the best tennis of his life," British former world number four Tim Henman said on BBC TV.

"His body just hasn't been able to stand up."

After a series of physical issues hampered his early years as a professional, Draper started to fulfil his potential over the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

His run to the US Open semi-finals two years ago was a breakthrough moment while his triumph at Indian Wells - one of the most prestigious prizes outside of the majors - lifted him into the world's top five.

With his left-handed serve and forehand able to beat the defence of most opponents, Draper emerged as a player who looked genuinely capable of challenging the dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

But his body has simply not allowed him to push on.

"When you have something that stops you in your tracks when you're not expecting it, it's really difficult to accept - especially after coming through what you have in the past," Draper said.

"I didn't know I was going to have the year I've had with the injuries, not being able to play too much, watching your ranking drop all the way down again to the start.

"You always have to look at the positive side of things. I have to rebuild myself and I have to start again almost."

Draper brought former world number one Andy Murray into his coaching team for the grass-court season, but they will not appear together at the All England Club this year.

The pair hope their partnership will continue for the longer-term but, as Murray told BBC Sport earlier this month, the first job is getting Draper on court more regularly.