Jack Draper will return to tennis at next week’s Eastbourne Open.
The former world number four hasn’t played a match since April when he suffered an injury at the Barcelona Open.
He will return with British tennis legend Andy Murray in his corner, having hired him as his coach for the grass-court season.
How excited are you for Andy Murray to join Jack Draper’s team?
What a signing!
Ahead of their first match together in Eastbourne, Murray has been asked whether he plans to coach Draper long-term.
Andy Murray says he hopes his partnership with Jack Draper will be a long-term project
During an interview with BBC Sport, Murray was asked whether his partnership with Draper is a long-term project.
“I hope so!” said Murray.
“I think the number one priority for Jack [Draper] and the team just now is getting him back on the match court, competing and gaining trust in his body again.”
Draper has only played a handful of matches in 2026, as he continues to struggle physically.
Jack Draper’s 2026 record (5-4)
- Davis Cup Q [WIN] vs Viktor Durasovic, 6-2, 6-2
- Dubai Tennis Championships 1R [WIN] vs Quentin Halys, 7-6, 6-3
- Dubai Tennis Championships 2R [LOSS] vs Arthur Rinderknech, 5-7, 7-6, 4-6
- Indian Wells 2R [WIN] vs Roberto Bautista Agut, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
- Indian Wells 3R [WIN] vs Francisco Cerundolo, 6-1, 7-5
- Indian Wells 4R [WIN] vs Novak Djokovic, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6
- Indian Wells QF [LOSS] vs Daniil Medvedev, 1-6, 5-7
- Miami Open 2R [LOSS] vs Reilly Opelka, 6-7, 6-7
- Barcelona Open 1R [LOSS] vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry, 6-3, 3-6, 1-4 (RET)
After missing the latter stages of the 2025 season due to a left arm injury, Draper only returned in February at the Davis Cup.
He played nine matches before retiring from the Barcelona Open with a knee injury.
Those two separate injury lay-offs have seen Draper drop out of the world’s top 100.
Live ATP Rankings
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
| 156 | Juan Carlos Prado Angelo | Bolivia | 374 |
| 157 | Jordan Thompson | Australia | 373 |
| 158 | Liam Draxl | Canada | 368 |
| 159 | Marco Cecchinato | Italy | 361 |
| 160 | Jack Draper | Great Britain | 360 |
| 161 | Lloyd Harris | South Africa | 359 |
| 162 | Zhang Zhizhen | China | 359 |
| 163 | Roberto Bautista Agut | Spain | 358 |
| 164 | Grigor Dimitrov | Bulgaria | 357 |
| 165 | Hugo Dellien | Bolivia | 357 |
However, Murray doesn’t believe it will take Draper long to get back to his best.
“I’ve been incredibly impressed with his tennis on the practice court. He’s a super quick learner and a brilliant player as well,” he said.
“[I have] no doubt that when he gets back on the match court he will perform well and win matches at the highest level.
“But right now the focus is on trying to get him back competing consistently again.”
When Draper was last consistently playing matches on tour, he won a Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells and made the final of the Madrid Open on clay, reaching a career-high rank of fourth in the world.
The Briton had even inserted himself into the conversation of players who might challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner for Grand Slam titles.
That seems a distant memory now, but in reality it wasn’t much more than 12 months ago.
If Draper and Murray can click, and the 24-year-old can stay healthy for the remainder of the season, there is no reason why he can’t bounce back and re-enter the top 100 before the end of the year.
What would be a successful Eastbourne Open for Jack Draper?
Draper will want to complete a full match in Eastbourne, regardless of the result.
A win would be preferred, of course, but Draper should prioritise his fitness and sharpness.
With that being said, Draper and Murray are born winners, and if they can get off the mark in round one, they will have their eyes firmly set on the title.
And the British pair would fancy their chances in a relatively weak field.
America’s Taylor Fritz, the four-time champion, would be the heavy favourite, although there is a real chance he withdraws from the event, having made a deep run in Halle.
Then, there’s the South American contingent of Joao Fonseca, Francisco Cerundolo, and Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
All three players are talented in their own right, but aren’t exactly grass-court specialists.
There are several other talented players in the draw, including Brandon Nakashima, Arthur Rinderknech, and Ugo Humbert, although none of those names will scare Draper.
If he can find some form and stay healthy, don’t be surprised to see Draper make a run in Eastbourne.
The action begins in Eastbourne on Monday, June 22.
