Jack Draper’s incredible 2024 run has hit a sudden speed bump, with the rising British star forced to pull out of several events due to a nagging hip injury.
The 22-year-old had finally started living up to his massive potential last year. With his powerful game and amazing athleticism, he showed everyone why tennis experts have been so excited about his future.
But it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Draper recently admitted something pretty surprising: he hadn’t really been putting in the work needed to make it as a pro before 2024.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| gb Jack Draper | 23 | 1,131 | 13 - 12 |
The year started well with a finals appearance in Adelaide, but then things got a bit rocky, especially during the clay season – definitely not his favorite time of year.
Everything changed when the grass courts came around. Draper grabbed his first ATP title in Stuttgart, beating former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini. That was huge.
Then he did something even bigger: knocked off Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time Wimbledon champ, at the Cinch Championships. Talk about making a statement.
The US Open was where Draper really showed what he could do. He blazed through to the semifinals without dropping a set, only stopping when he ran into eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
His best moment came near the end of the year in Vienna, where he won his first ATP 500 title by beating Karen Khachanov. It looked like everything was finally clicking.
But tennis can be cruel sometimes. Just as Draper was planning to train with Alcaraz in the off-season, his hip started acting up. He had to cancel those plans.
Now he’s had to pull out of the United Cup starting December 27th, and he won’t be playing in Britain’s Davis Cup match after the Australian Open either.
“I’m gutted,” Draper said about missing the United Cup. “While we’re positive about competing in the Australian Open this year, I know I won’t be able to jump straight into a packed schedule as I manage and strengthen my hip.”
He’s being realistic about his chances Down Under: “My preparation for Australia won’t be the best. But that’s the situation in sport – you’ve got to roll with the highs and lows.”
The young Brit is clearly trying to think long-term, working with his team to get fully healthy rather than rushing back too soon. It’s a smart move, even if it means missing some big opportunities early in 2025.