Jack Draper has pulled out of the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club as the former British No 1 continues his recovery from injury ahead of Wimbledon.
Draper, who recently included Andy Murray in his new-look coaching set-up for the grasscourt season, is set to make his return at Eastbourne, which ends two days before play will get under way at Wimbledon.
The former world No 4 has not played since mid-April, with his return from an eight-month arm injury hampered by a succession of withdrawals.
The 24-year-old missed the Monte-Carlo Masters and Madrid Open and saw his hopes of featuring at the French Open last month ended by a knee injury.
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Tim Henman and Laura Robson discuss Andy Murray joining Jack Draper’s coaching team, believing the British number two will gain so much, but wonder how it will play out with the extra spotlight.
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Marion Bartoli and Colin Fleming react to the news that Jack Draper has been forced to withdraw from the French Open with a knee injury.
“[My] Recovery is going in the right direction, but I’m going to give myself one more week and aim to return at Eastbourne,” Draper said in a statement to Sky Sports.
“Very hard to miss one of my favourite events of the year.”
Will Draper feel more pressure with Murray in his corner?
Andy Murray is to join Jack Draper’s coaching team for the grasscourt season
British players are thrown into the spotlight during the grasscourt season but Sky Sports Tennis‘ Laura Robson wondered if the presence of Murray may have indirect consequences for Draper.
“In some way it’s really beneficial that Andy’s in his corner but in other ways it’s more pressure as well,” she said.
“I don’t know which way I’m leaning towards still because there’s going to be so much attention now on that first match back, wherever it may be. That probably isn’t going to feel great, considering he’s not played a lot of tennis. It’s been a tough time with injuries over the last almost a year now.
“To know, going in, that you’re expected by pretty much everyone to be playing well probably adds another layer to it but I haven’t quite decided which way I’m leaning there yet.”
Four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman said: “I was a little bit surprised that Jack and Jamie Delgado had split because they’ve been working together for a period of time but they haven’t had a massive amount of time at tournaments.
“We saw them in Indian Wells and Jack looked like he was playing well, so that was definitely a surprise to me.
“When I heard about Andy Murray coming in for the grasscourt season, I think that’s a great opportunity for Jack with Andy’s obvious experience as a player playing at home; Queen’s, Wimbledon, his record speaks for itself, so definitely a good opportunity.”
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