Australian Open 2025: Why Jack Draper had to withdraw against Carlos Alcaraz

Draper enjoyed the finest year of his career in 2024 – winning his first ATP titles, becoming the British number one and reaching the US Open semi-finals – and looked forward to further improving his physical resilience before the start of the 2025 season.

But his hip injury, which Draper says flared up after a “week of pre-season” in December, ended those plans.

“Basically I had tendonitis in my hip that I had to get an MRI to look at,” he said.

“I’ve had a history of issues in that area and it hasn’t gone away. I’m still dealing with that.

“In pre-season it went into my back and I couldn’t walk. It was really hard.”

Draper said he was unable to play for “about two to three weeks” before flying to Australia between Christmas and New Year.

He started hitting again at Melbourne Park before playing practice sets against Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner in the days leading up to his opening match.

“You have to feel so sorry for him,” former British number one Annabel Croft said on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

“Every time he comes back there is a setback and you lose that momentum and practice time.

“A lot of players put their years into blocks, competition, rest and training, and he’s constantly compromised because his body is failing him.”