Hold your breath, tennis fans! Rumors were swirling, whispers of absence, but the uncertainty surrounding Jack Draper's participation in the Australian Open has been decisively squashed by the man himself! Get ready, because Draper is confirmed to return to the court at the United Cup.
It's been a challenging period for the young Brit. After a promising start, including a win at the Indian Wells Masters in 2025, Draper was sidelined due to a recurring bone bruising issue that unfortunately cut his 2025 season short, following the US Open.
In early December, there was a scheduled appearance at the UTS London. However, Draper, ranked 10th in the world, had to withdraw, citing that he wasn't quite ready to compete. This fueled speculation, with whispers growing louder last week, suggesting he might be forced to extend his time away from the game.
But Draper, ever the professional, has addressed the concerns directly. While preparing for the new season in London, he engaged with fans, and when asked point-blank about his Australian Open plans, his response was clear.
"I’ll be playing in Australia, yeah... It’s not been the easiest time for me because I was coming up, I was feeling like I was in a really good place right at the top, and then something like this happens and I guess you either stand still and let it get the best of you or you keep on going. And I think, yeah, that’s just a constant wheel, that’s just a constant wave. You know, you’re successful then you’re going to struggle and then you get successful again. But you have to keep at it mentally, so I feel like I’ve done that pretty well," Draper stated.
This is fantastic news for Draper's fans!
Draper is set to join forces with Emma Raducanu to represent Great Britain at the United Cup. His first match will be against Japan's Shintaro Mochizuki on January 4th. Following that, he will face off against Stefanos Tsitsipas.
What do you think of Draper's resilience? Do you believe he'll be able to bounce back stronger than ever? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
