Jack Draper's frustrating season continues. The 24-year-old Brit announced his withdrawal from the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club on Monday, a tournament where he reached the semi-finals last year.
The knee injury sustained in Barcelona at the start of the clay court swing remains the culprit. Despite a memorable comeback at Indian Wells, where he toppled Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals, the former world No. 4 has been unable to string together consistent tournament runs.
"Recovery going in the right direction, but I'm going to give myself one more week and aim to return at Eastbourne," Draper said. The subtext is clear: Wimbledon is the priority, and everything else is secondary.
His absence strips the Queen's draw of a major contender. The London event, which combines ATP and WTA draws this year, will still feature Alex de Minaur, Lorenzo Musetti, and Cameron Norrie on the men's side.
For Draper, 2026 has been an obstacle course. Withdrawals from Madrid, Rome, and Roland-Garros have sent his ranking tumbling far from the top 10. The addition of Andy Murray to his coaching team for the grass season offers a silver lining. The former world No. 1 knows British grass better than anyone and could prove the key to a successful Wimbledon preparation.
The countdown is on. Eastbourne begins June 22, just ten days before the All England Club.
