Injured Jack Draper issues French Open update after pulling out of Madrid and Rome

Jack Draper retired from his first-round match in Barcelona (Getty)

Jack Draper has withdrawn from the Madrid Open, where he reached the final last year, and the Italian Open due to a knee tendon injury.

The Brit has not completed a clay-court match this season after retiring from his opening round match in Barcelona against Tomas Martin Etcheverry as a result of the issue.

He did not play in the Monte Carlo Masters and has now pulled out of the next two Masters 1000 events on the surface, in the Spanish capital this week and in Rome next month.

The 24-year-old remains hopeful of playing at Roland-Garros in the second grand slam of the season, saying: “An aggravated tendon in my knee means I am not able to play in Madrid and Rome.

“It's frustrating for sure but I am thankful it isn't anything more serious, recovery is going well and I feel good about my chances of being fit for Roland Garros. I am looking forward to building momentum from there.”

The British No 2 has endured a frustrating eight-month spell, only playing one singles match over the second half of last season due to a troubling bone bruising injury in his left serving arm.

He has played a reduced calendar in 2026 thus far to manage that injury only to now be laid low by a right knee issue, which required heavy strapping before the final set in Barcelona. He retired when 4-1 down in the decider.

The former US Open semi-finalist has significant ranking points to defend over this section of the clay-court swing, having finished runner-up to Casper Ruud in the Madrid final last year and following that up with a run to the quarter-finals in Rome.