Jack Draper makes winning return after lengthy spell on the sidelines at Davis Cup
ATPThursday, 05 February 2026 at 19:15
Jack Draper has had many a false dawn but he has made a winning return to action after being sidelined for a lengthy spell by injury.
Playing for the first time since having to withdraw from the US Open last year through injury, he is representing Great Britain in the Davis Cup qualifying.
He defeated Viktor Durasovic in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 dominating his opponent and converting his second match point to put Britain ahead in the tie.
The British No.1 made such a splash last season when he won Indian Wells and ascended towards the top five in the world but always injury prone prior to that, disaster struck as he played just one match after Wimbledon which was due to be a homecoming and soon turned into a bit of a nightmare.
He had bone bruising in his left arm and curtailed his 2025 season entirely ruling him out of the Australian Open last month. He missed six months of the 2023 season due to a shoulder problem that required several operations but the nature of said injury proved to be a lot harder to deal with this time around.
He has often flirted with the idea of returning both in exhibitions but also in main tour tennis including the Australian Open but he has often found it hard to deal with.
"I've really missed competing. It's been a long time, but I've learned a lot of things. It's been a very difficult injury for me, but it's good to be back here," he said previously to Sky Sports.
"You're kind of like in a hole and you need to get yourself out of that hole somehow, especially with a long injury. There's not been just one moment but many moments where it's been very, very difficult, not only myself but my team and my family.
"But that's where you've got to stay strong, you've got to keep on going."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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