Jack Draper’s withdrawal from Roland Garros has added to the growing list of casualties ahead of the second Grand Slam of the year.
Sadly, this one was rather expected.
After all, the Brit had endured a torrid year already, having missed the Australian Open due to a lack of preparation due to an arm injury he had suffered in 2025.
Then, just as he seemed set to return to fitness and regular matchplay, a new knee ailment has set him back further.
Because of this, Draper has been forced to withdraw from the French Open, with Marion Bartoli now offering her reaction.
Marion Bartoli reacts to Jack Draper’s withdrawal from Roland Garros
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Wimbledon champion spoke about what was an ‘extremely sad’ update from the 24-year-old.
She continued: “For Jack Draper, we knew it would be a tough year to come back after an injury. But, you know, it’s always disappointing to miss a Grand Slam, and for him to make a call so early as well, it’ll be the same as Carlos Alcaraz. It must be a really difficult injury to treat.
Do you see any way back for Jack Draper?
Another injury!
“I know he has been posting about how he unfortunately can’t get the reps in, can’t get the volume of practice he wants to. And obviously, with Roland Garros being one of the most demanding Grand Slams due to the surface and the length of the rallies, the length of the matches, you really want to go out there to be able to be at 100% competing fully.
“And unfortunately, we are very sad to see that news from Jack.”
Colin Fleming, who stood alongside Bartoli, admitted that the best-of-five format came too soon for Jack Draper after so many injuries.
He added: “Yeah, I mean, unfortunately, having missed the Australian Open, he’s missing Roland Garros as well.
“I think the best of five is a factor. I think it was a factor in Australia, with the arm, he was back on court, he was hitting, but it’s like, okay, am I really gonna return in a Grand Slam and play best of five?
“It seems to be the same sort of decision, I think of Roland Garros, you know, he’s hitting again, which is positive, but am I really going to be ready to come back, play best of five on clay, sliding, pushing myself?
“Because he doesn’t just want to turn up, right? If he’s gonna play, he’s there to compete, and he’s one guy that believes he can beat the top players, so really sad news, but let’s all hope that he’s back for the grass and back for Wimbledon.”
Draper had posted an emotional update after his injury in Barcelona, but few could have predicted he would suffer such a significant new setback straight after his arm issue had seemingly cleared up.
Jack Draper set to suffer a huge ranking drop after latest injury setback
Following confirmation that Draper will now miss the events in Rome and Paris, forfeiting the rest of his clay-court season, he is set to suffer a huge drop in the rankings.
After all, after what had been a stunning start to 2025, he was forced to miss an entire summer of tennis after Wimbledon, before withdrawing from the US Open after his first-round win.
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So, having missed so much tennis at the back-end of that year, and now missing the majority of the start of 2026, where he had so many points to defend, this blow to the rankings should come as no surprise.
He is already set to lose the 680 points he gained from his run to the Madrid Open final from last year, and will lose another 400 from his performances at the Italian Open and Roland Garros.
As such, deducting 1080 points from his current rankings tally would see him actually drop outside of the world’s top 100, to 113th in the world.
