Jack Draper's return to tennis will need to be postponed once again, this time he withdrew from the 2023 Madrid Open.
After the young Brit won four ATP Challenger titles last year and finished the season in the Top 50 of the ATP Rankings, he wanted to show that he belongs to the top this year despite sometimes feeling the imposter syndrome.
He got off to a good start, playing semifinals in Adelaide, and then he also reached the fourth round in Indian Wells. However, his match against the top seed Carlos Alcaraz was cut short due to Draper's injury which forced him to retire.
Subsequently, the 21-year-old withdrew from the Miami Open as he revealed that he has torn his muscle and stated that his priority is to 'heal and recover properly' and he also mentioned that he knows patience is the key to successful recovery.
Draper then played in Monte Carlo, where he lost in a tough three-set battle to Hubert Hurkacz, but it seems that his comeback may have come too early. That's because Draper announced his withdrawal from the 2023 Madrid Open and his health seems to be worrying at the moment.
He joined a growing list of players withdrawing from the tournament as Rafael Nadal, Matteo Berrettini, and Nick Kyrgios are all among the players pulling out of the event.
Therefore, a few spots opened up on the entry list and players who would have to play qualifying otherwise will now have a chance to enter the main draw directly and try their luck at the ATP 1000 event in the Spanish capital.
For Jack Draper a period of wait and recovery will start again. His main goal will surely be the Roland Garros and the subsequent grass-court swing which is played mainly in his home country in front of the British fans.