"I've earned the right to be back": Jack Draper returns from injury hell ahead of Wimbledon

Jack Draper will make his long-awaited return to competition at the Eastbourne Open next week, marking his first tournament appearance in more than two months.

The British player has not competed since the Barcelona Open, where his campaign ended prematurely with a retirement during his opening-round match. Eastbourne now represents an important checkpoint as he attempts to rebuild momentum ahead of Wimbledon.

The 24-year-old has endured an extended period of injury disruption over the past year. After spending roughly six months sidelined between the US Open and his comeback in Dubai earlier this season, Draper managed to play only four tournaments before another physical setback halted his progress in Barcelona.

The entire clay-court swing passed without him competing, leaving Eastbourne as his sole grass-court event before the third Grand Slam of the season.

The timing of his return also carries significant ranking implications. Currently ranked World No. 113, Draper faces the prospect of dropping outside the Top 150 in the coming weeks if results do not arrive quickly. With additional points to defend after Wimbledon, there is even the possibility of slipping outside the Top 200 should his comeback stall.

Draper arrives in Eastbourne carrying positive memories from his previous appearance at the tournament. He recalled his breakthrough run in 2022, when he first broke into the Top 100 after victories over Alexander Bublik and Diego Schwartzman before eventually falling to Maxime Cressy. Four years after his last appearance at the seaside event, he views the tournament as an ideal environment to restart his season.

The Briton made it clear that expectations remain measured. "I've been injured for a long time. I've had a lot of setbacks, a lot of struggle, especially in this last year,” the former Indian Wells champion said in an interview with LTA. “But I've kept on going, I've kept on working really hard. And I'm just pumped to be back at a tournament, to be honest.

“I'm going to give my all, like I always do on the match court, but to be here, to be feeling good in my body again and to be ready to compete. Let's see what happens."

Grass-court preparation has been limited by his absence from Queen's Club, but Draper believes additional matches can accelerate his adaptation to the surface. "I feel like on grass, you just get better each day because it's such a short swing and you're not used to it. So, hopefully the matches will help me to also get more confidence."

One of the most notable developments in Draper's comeback has been the addition of former World No. 1 Andy Murray to his team. The 3-time Grand Slam champion has joined forces with Jamie Delgado in an effort to help the British player rebuild both his physical condition and competitive level.

The former US Open semi-finalist highlighted Murray's experience as a major asset. Having witnessed Murray repeatedly recover from injuries and adversity throughout his own career, Draper believes few people are better equipped to understand the challenges associated with long rehabilitation periods.

"Andy obviously has been through so much throughout his career, so much experience, many setbacks, many injuries, many adversities, but he always came through them and was incredibly good at coming back and showing what he's all about. So, having him in my corner has been obviously great from that aspect as well."

According to Draper, Murray's biggest message has not been tactical but philosophical. Rather than focusing on immediate results, the three-time Grand Slam champion has encouraged him to view his comeback as part of a longer process. That perspective has been particularly valuable during periods when impatience threatened to overshadow progress.

"It's not about one tournament or two tournaments, it's about what I'm doing on the practice court every day, especially after my injuries, to keep progressing, to keep on developing my game for the long term. He's really tried to instil that in me, especially in this period where maybe I've been a little bit more impatient."

While Eastbourne serves as the immediate focus, Wimbledon remains the obvious target behind Draper's return. Last year's grass-court season was interrupted by illness despite a run to the semi-finals at Queen's, leaving him feeling that he never had the opportunity to fully capitalize on his form. This year, simply reaching the court healthy represents a significant step forward.

Draper spoke about appreciating every practice session and every opportunity to compete, sentiments shaped by months spent away from competition.

He acknowledged missing the unique atmosphere of professional matches and the energy that comes from performing in front of home supporters. "I've earned the right to be back on the match court now and I've worked incredibly hard. So, this grass court season, I want to compete very, very hard."

For a player who has spent much of the past year battling his own body, that feeling has become increasingly meaningful. "There's nothing that is quite like competing, especially in front of people. It's just something that is, your body just gets used to it over time and it's a feeling you miss. And it makes me complete when I'm doing that."