Jack Draper to miss 2026 Australian Open as British No. 1 continues recovery from arm injury - 'Really tough decision'
Updated 26/12/2025 at 20:42 GMT
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British men's No. 1 Jack Draper will not compete at the 2026 Australian Open in Melbourne as he continues to recover from injury. World No. 10 Draper has only played one match since Wimbledon due to bone bruising in his left arm. Draper made the fourth round at last year's Australian Open. The first Grand Slam of the season starts on January 18, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Jack Draper has revealed he will miss the 2026 Australian Open due to an ongoing arm injury.
Draper has only played once since Wimbledon in the summer of 2025 because of bone bruising in his left arm.
And although it was hoped that Draper may be able to compete in the first major of the new year, he has taken the "tough" decision to miss Melbourne.
The Australian Open will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+, starting on January 18.
"Unfortunately, me and my team have decided not to head out to Australia this year," Draper confirmed in a video posted to X.
"It’s a really, really tough decision – obviously with Australia being a Grand Slam, it’s one of the biggest tournaments in our sport.
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'My arm was shutting down' - Draper reveals extent of 'painful' bone bruising
Video credit: SNTV
"However, I’ve had this injury for a long time, I’m at the end stages of the process, and to step back on court in best-of-five set tennis so soon just doesn’t feel like the smart decision for me and my tennis.
"I’ve obviously been through a fair amount of setbacks so far, but by far and away this has been the most difficult, challenging and complex one that I’ve had.
"It’s weird. It always seems to make me more resilient, make me hungrier, make me want to become the player I want to become even more. I’m looking forward to getting back out there in 2026 and competing.
"I’d like to thank everyone for all the support in 2025. It means the world to me to be competing and playing out there on the Tour with the other guys, and I’m looking forward to doing that again."
The decision will be a frustrating one for British tennis fans, as Draper had been showing some of the best form of his career prior to his injury issues.
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The 24-year-old reached the fourth round of the Australian Open in 2025, then claimed the most significant title victory of his career at Indian Wells.
He climbed into the world's top five with that victory, coming just months after the retirement of former Wimbledon and US Open winner Andy Murray. And in June, he moved a place higher in the rankings to world No. 4.
But Draper made a second-round exit at Wimbledon, before withdrawing from his second-round match at the US Open with injury issues.
He will hope to be back playing soon after Melbourne, in what could still be another big tennis year for him.
The Australian Open begins on January 18 and runs through until February 1.
Watch and stream top tennis action, including the 2026 Australian Open, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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