Jack Draper recently made his return to competitive play after a six-month absence.
Last week, the British star defeated Norway’s Viktor Durasovic in straight sets, 6-2 6-2, helping Great Britain secure a place in the second round of Davis Cup qualifying.
However, concern regarding Draper’s health has come to the fore once again following his withdrawal from the Rotterdam Open.
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Draper suffered a left arm injury in the summer of 2025 and the issue resulted in him playing just one match between July 2025 and January 2026.
The 23-year-old seemed to have put this issue behind him after playing at the Davis Cup. However, his Rotterdam withdrawal has raised concerns and Steve Johnson is worried.
Steve Johnson is worried about Jack Draper’s Rotterdam Open withdrawal
Speaking on the Nothing Major Show, the former world number 21 said: “Everybody was happy to see Jack Draper back. He didn’t skip a beat, which is super impressive with how little tennis he has played.
He has not played a match since the US Open last year, which is not easy to do.
“We have all taken time off and it’s not easy to come back and look sharp which he did. He played in under an hour, ‘roadhouses’ Durasovic 2 and 2.
“Great Britain get the win but unfortunately then two days’ later he pulls out of Rotterdam, which is not a good sign for Jack Draper and the future of his tennis, because he hasn’t played a match in months.
“He comes back and plays in under an hour, his body looks really good and really crisp for not having played much, and he pulls out of Rotterdam before the tournament starts.
“I don’t know what is going on but we need him to stay healthy. He is such an addition to the game when he is out there competing, he is a Masters 1000 champion, he can peak at the highest level.
“I am happy to see him back at Davis Cup level and I thought he played an awesome match, but it’s such a bummer he can’t stay healthy and play Rotterdam. I am bummed out as a tennis fan now, as I would love to watch him play.
“If you have played one match, it’s not a good sign that you can’t play the next week.
“I am not trying to put words into his mouth, I don’t know what is going on, but I would like to have seen him play Rotterdam. I want to see him play. I am just selfish because he is fun to watch.”
While Draper’s withdrawal is certainly concerning, it is worth noting that he seems to be simply exercising caution.
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Speaking after his Davis Cup match, Draper told Sky Sports: “While I am feeling positive about how my recovery is going I have been advised not to rush straight out and potentially compete in back-to-back matches.”
“While I am feeling positive about how my recovery is going I have been advised not to rush straight out and potentially compete in back-to-back matches.”
“As disappointed as I am not to be back out there, overall I am trending in the right direction.
Leon Smith also said: “No [injury niggle], that was mostly going to be the plan [to only play once].
“Unless maybe he came off and said ‘look, that was a really quick match’, which is what, but it’s still the first match that he’s had back in five months.
“So unless he had knocked on my door and said ‘no, no, come on, I want to go again’, the sensible thing with him, his medical team, was to say ‘let’s get this match banked, do some recovery and then go from there’. It was the right thing to do.”
Jack Draper’s next event
Draper’s next event is set to be the Dubai Tennis Championships, which will take place from February 23 to 28.
The British star has the chance to significantly boost his ranking: he did not compete in the 2025 event and therefore, is not defending any ATP points at the event.
- After a two-month absence, Draper returned to competitive play at the 2025 US Open, where he defeated Federico Agustin Gomez in the first round.
- Draper withdrew from the tournament ahead of his second-round match due to the same arm injury that had plagued him before the event.
- Draper made his return in February 2026 at the Davis Cup, defeating Viktor Durasovic in his first match back.
Draper, the former world number four, has slipped to 13th on the ATP Tour following his period of absence.
The tournament was last won by Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is set to defend his title later this month. Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alexander Bublik and Daniil Medvedev are also set to compete in Dubai.
If Draper does indeed compete in Dubai, the occasion will mark his first-ever appearance at the tournament.
