Draper faces fight to be fit for Australian Open as hip injury hits plans

Jack Draper faces a race against time to be in top physical shape for the Australian Open next month after suffering a hip injury in training.

- Tumaini Carayol

Having already cancelled plans to travel to Villena, Spain for an intense pre-season training block with Carlos Alcaraz due to his hip, last week Draper withdrew from the United Cup, his first scheduled event of 2024, and opted out of the Davis Cup tie slated for the weekend after the Australian Open in Tokyo.

Draper said he is "very positive" about competing at the first grand slam tournament of the year, but he will evidently have to continue monitoring and strengthening his hip before and after the event.

"It's obviously very disappointing that I can't go out [to Spain]," said Draper, who turned 23 on Sunday. "But that's the thing in sports, sometimes you have these disappointments, you have these little challenges and little setbacks that come your way, and you have to think about how you are going to make the most of that. In my mind, I'm thinking that I always have to try and have a positive outlook."

A significant factor in the British No 1's rise this year has been the excellent fitness and health he maintained throughout the season after an injury-riddled start to his career. The final weeks of 2024, however, have been a reminder that progress is not always a straight line.