Jack Draper has been forced to withdraw from Wimbledon after a relapse of the arm injury that has sidelined him for the end of last year and most of this one.
Draper had been scheduled to compete in one of the most widely discussed first-round matches against the sixth seed, Taylor Fritz, on Tuesday. He had only just returned from another injury layoff, with his appearance in Eastbourne last week marking his first tournament in two and a half months after struggling with knee tendinitis.
Draper’s left arm injury, a bone bruise, had forced him off the tour for seven months, between July and February. In a statement, he said: “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 honour for a British player than playing at Wimbledon. I will continue to persevere through this. Thank you for the support!!”
Draper was seeded No 4 at Wimbledon last year and he is one of the most talented players of his generation with the ability to compete for the biggest titles. However, remaining healthy remains his greatest challenge.
