Jack Draper Withdraws from UTS Grand Final
Jack Draper has announced his withdrawal from the upcoming Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) Grand Final, set to take place in London this week. Known as ‘The Power’ in the UTS arena, Draper, who clinched the Grand Final title in 2023, had been looking forward to defending his crown. However, an injury to his left arm has forced him to step back from the competition.
Injury Details
The issue has plagued the 23-year-old since the onset of the clay-court season. A bone bruise was diagnosed after a scan conducted during Wimbledon revealed the extent of the injury. Following a brief return to the sport during the US Open, Draper withdrew midway through his second-round match against Zizou Bergs due to a resurgence of pain, ultimately ending his season early.
Social Media Announcement
Despite hopes of making a comeback at the UTS event, scheduled from December 5-7 at the Copper Box Arena in London, Draper revealed through a social media announcement on Monday that he is not prepared to compete.
“I’ve been working hard to be back for the UTS in London but frustratingly I’m just not quite ready. It’s a tough call as at this point I want nothing more than to get out there and compete but I’ve been advised to take more time. I’m sorry to let down fans and miss out on the event,”
Draper stated.
Replacement and Future Plans
French tennis player Ugo Humbert will step in to take Draper’s place at the UTS. Looking ahead, Draper is scheduled to represent Great Britain at the 2026 United Cup in Australia, which commences on January 2, just two weeks before the action of the Australian Open begins.
Season Highlights
Draper’s season was notable as he finished the year in the Top 10 of the ATP rankings for the first time, having started the year at World No. 15 after a successful run that included a victory at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna late in 2024. He went on to achieve a prestigious Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells—his largest accomplishment to date—and soared to a career-high ranking of World No. 4.
His strong performance continued with a final appearance at the Madrid Masters and a quarterfinal stint at the Italian Open. Seeded fifth at the French Open, Draper made it to the fourth round before being eliminated by Alexander Bublik. Subsequent matches included a semi-final finish at the Queen’s Club Championships before he faced defeat against Marin Cilic in Wimbledon’s second round, which exacerbated his injury issues.
Later in the summer, Draper partnered with American Jessica Pegula in the mixed doubles at the US Open, where they reached the semifinals before bowing out to Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud. Draper managed to win his singles opener at Flushing Meadows but was again compelled to retire from the tournament due to discomfort in his left arm. Ultimately, he did not participate in any further matches for the remainder of the season but successfully retained a position within the Top 10 rankings by year’s end.
