In another big blow to British tennis, Jack Draper has announced his shock withdrawal from the 2026 Wimbledon Championships.
The 24-year-old’s withdrawal comes just one day after Emma Raducanu also withdrew from the Grand Slam event, leaving British tennis without its two biggest title hopefuls.
Jack Draper Announces Shock Withdrawal From Wimbledon
Draper was set to face Taylor Fritz in one of the most thrilling first-round matches at the All England Club. However, a recurrence of bone bruising in his left arm forced him to pull out just 24 hours before his opener.
“Devastated to share that I have had to withdraw from my first round match due to a recurrence of my arm injury. There have been a lot of painful moments in the last 12 months, but this one is definitely the absolute worst, as there is no greater honor for a British player than playing at Wimbledon. I will continue to persevere through this. Thank you for the support,” Draper said in a statement announcing his withdrawal.
Draper had teamed up with two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray before the start of the grass-court season, looking to take his game on the surface to the next level. He made his return from a two-month injury layoff at the Eastbourne Open, where he reached the semifinals after an encouraging run.
Regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in British tennis, Draper has endured a difficult 12 months due to an arm injury.
The 24-year-old has been limited to just 13 matches on the ATP Tour this year and has slipped to 131st in the ATP rankings as a result. The arm injury first arose before his 2025 US Open second-round match and ruled him out for the rest of the year.
MORE: What Did Emma Raducanu Say Just Hours Before Sudden Wimbledon Withdrawal? All To Know
Draper also missed the Australian Open this year but made his return to the court at the Davis Cup qualifiers in February. However, a knee issue then forced him to miss the majority of the clay-court season. He will now hope to return to his best in time for the US Open. He reached the semifinals at Flushing Meadows in 2024.
Meanwhile, Fritz will now face a lucky loser from qualifying in the first round of the Wimbledon Championships. The American also suffered an injury scare in the week before the Grand Slam but looks set to compete with the aim of repeating last year’s historic run.
