Draper withdraws from UTS grand final as arm injury comeback is delayed

Jack Draper has pushed back his planned return from an arm injury after withdrawing from this weekend’s Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) Grand Final in London, Sport360NG reports.

The British No. 1 has featured in only one singles match since Wimbledon and had targeted the innovative three-day event at the Copper Box Arena, running from 5 to 7 December, as part of his preparation for a full comeback in January. But the 23-year-old confirmed on social media that medical advice prompted him to delay his return.

“I’ve been working hard to get ready for the UTS but frustratingly I’m just not quite ready,” Draper said. “It’s a tough call as I want nothing more than to compete, but I’ve been advised to take more time. Sorry to let down fans and miss out on the event.”

Draper’s injury issues began during the clay season when he felt discomfort in his upper left arm while serving. A scan after Wimbledon led to a month-long break from serving. He attempted a comeback at the US Open in August, playing mixed doubles with Jessica Pegula and winning his opening singles match, but later withdrew when the arm pain resurfaced.

The London leg of the UTS would have guaranteed Draper at least three short-format matches, played across four eight-minute quarters, and pitted him against fellow top-20 names including Alex de Minaur, Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev. He had accepted a wildcard from event founder Patrick Mouratoglou.

Mouratoglou, speaking to BBC Sport in October, noted both his optimism about Draper’s recovery and the potential risks of an early return. “You can’t play on a bone bruise, because the next stage is a stress fracture and you can’t take that risk,” he said. “With a bone bruise on the arm, you can still do a lot of fitness to stay in shape, but it’s frustrating because you have to stop completely and wait for it to heal.”

Earlier in November, Draper shared footage from the National Tennis Centre showing him hitting forehands while wearing a compression sleeve on his left arm.

His next planned outing is for Great Britain at the United Cup in Perth in early January. The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the 2025 season, begins on 18 January in Melbourne.

Despite his limited action in the second half of the year, Draper remains ranked 10 in the world, having climbed to a career-high No. 4 in June following a breakthrough run that included his maiden Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells.