“Too great player to miss” Greg Rusedski backs Jack Draper as he battles injuries and eyes comeback

Greg Rusedski, former British No. 1 and former world No. 4, highlighted Jack Draper’s ongoing battle with injury, noting that while Draper returned briefly to play in the Davis Cup, his appearance did not generate the excitement fans might have expected.

The 2025 Indian Wells champion has struggled with injuries for an extended period, having missed most of the early 2026 season. His last competitive match came during the US Open 2025, where he retired before the second round due to injury. He was expected to make a return towards the end of the season, but withdrew from the rest of the season, and later from UTS exhibition tournament where he was scheduled to play two months later.

Draper’s comeback was then anticipated for the start of the year at the Australian Open, but the British player ultimately had to withdraw due to injury. After his appearance in the Davis Cup a few weeks prior, he was entered in Rotterdam—but again pulled out of the tournament, generating doubts just a couple of weeks before he was set to defend his title at Tennis Paradise.

Recently, Rusedski referred to his compatriot, the British No. 1, on his podcast Off Court with Greg, emphasizing the physical demands Draper has faced trying to match the pace of top-tier competitors. “Well, the thing which I found really fascinating when he discussed in an article, he said, ‘Look, the reason I've got the injury is because I'm trying to keep up with the tempo and pace that Alcaraz and Sinner play at. And I pushed my body too hard when it wasn't ready.’ And that's one of the reasons he said he got this injury and this bruising.”

The former British No. 1 noted that injuries at this stage could complicate Draper’s ranking trajectory and long-term progress. With a significant number of ATP points at stake in upcoming tournaments, Draper’s ability to maintain fitness and consistency is crucial. Rusedski suggested that careful management of both training and tournament play will be key to ensuring Draper can compete effectively at the top level.

Despite these setbacks, Rusedski remained optimistic about Draper’s potential. He praised Draper’s talent, work ethic, and his importance to British tennis. “So, you know, we love his game. We love his personality. He's great for tennis in Britain and globally, and we wish him the best of luck. And we want to see him back on court consistently playing week in, week out.”

Rusedski also framed Draper as a rising contender with genuine potential to challenge the new generation of top men’s players. “And, uh, you know, he's too great a player to miss because, as you say, he was kind of like the third guy knocking on the door. So we wish Jack all the best. We want to see him back healthy.”

Rusedski turned his attention to Carlos Alcaraz, emphasizing the Spaniard’s influence on the current men’s tour. At just 22 years old, Alcaraz has already won seven majors, the youngest in the men’s game to reach that milestone. Rusedski highlighted Alcaraz’s timing, emerging as Federer and Nadal fade and Djokovic continues to compete at the highest level.

“To me, he's just dynamic. He's so fast, with incredible shot selection. You never know what to expect with him—the unexpected, the drop shot, the athleticism, the smile. He's a ray of light. He's come just in time for the sport when the Big Three were fading a little bit. Djokovic is still going.”

Rusedski noted that while Alcaraz is still on the path to fully matching the Big Three, his progress and style of play are significant for the men’s game. “We are fans of Carlos and what he's achieved—seven majors already at 22 years old, youngest to do so in the men's game. He's on course, not there yet, with a long way to catch the Big Three, but he is great for men's tennis.”

Serena Williams’ possible return remains one of the most intriguing storylines on the WTA tour. While she has not denied her comeback, her inclusion in the ITIA testing pool suggests she is keeping the door open to competitive play. Williams, a two-time mother and former world No. 1, is reportedly close to being ready for singles competition, raising questions about her ability to face a field led by top-ranked players such as Rybakina and Sabalenka.

“She is looking at singles, but I'm still shocked by it. Anytime a great champion wants to come back, it's great for our sport, especially with what Serena accomplished. She looks in great shape. The question is how her tennis game and how’s the movement.” Rusedski highlighted that while doubles may provide a softer re-entry, singles intrigue remains significant given the high caliber of contemporary competition.

“And you've got to look at the WTA tour at the moment, Mboko. I mean, she's playing great tennis right now. Rybakina, you know, winning the Australian Open, Sabalenka. So they're playing some fierce tennis right now.”

He further stressed the uncertainty surrounding her approach. “So Serena with the comeback, it'll be interesting if she comes in singles, she can only come back if she feels like she can beat them. So that is the question mark for me. I'm sure she's going to come back and at least play doubles, but I would love to see what happens on singles and everybody is intrigued. So singles, fascinating reality, I think possibly doubles.”