Jack Draper Forced To Withdraw From 2023 Wimbledon Championships

Thursday, 08 June 2023 at 17:19

Updated at Monday, 21 October 2024 at 01:44

byJordan Reynolds

Jack Draper will not compete at his home Grand Slam after withdrawing from the 2023 Wimbledon Championships.

Draper is one of the most exciting young talents on the ATP Tour. His powerful left-handed forehand and superb athleticism at the age of just 21 mean his future looks very bright.

Although the Briton has been somewhat inconsistent throughout 2023, fans have also witnessed some moments of brilliance. That included beating his compatriot and idol Andy Murray at the Indian Wells Open.

Unfortunately, any momentum Draper had built was halted at the French Open. The 21-year-old retired after just 11 games with a shoulder injury against the Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

The main draw at Wimbledon does not start until July 3rd. Some may have expected Draper to wait until closer to the start of the tournament before deciding whether to compete at his home Grand Slam.

However, the injury is severe enough for Draper to know he will miss the entire grasscourt season. The Briton confirmed his shoulder needed some time and rehab to become strong enough to compete again.

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"It’s clear my shoulder is going to need time and rehab to get back to where it needs to be. My team and I have made the difficult decision to miss the grass court season this year. I guess in this sport there are so many ups and downs but this one is tough to take. The only thing for sure is that I will keep persevering. Thank you for all the support I get on here it means a lot…"

Draper's withdrawal means home hopes will be placed even more squarely on Murray. It could be a tough ask for the two-time Wimbledon champion since the 36-year-old is past his peak, but a deep run on his favorite surface cannot be ruled out.