"You must force them to put their rackets down" – Jack Draper withdraws from Rotterdam Open and teams up with Matt Little

Britain has been waiting for a new male star to rally behind since Andy Murray's retired. While Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans have received tremendous support in tournaments, the most exciting young British player on the rise is Jack Draper.

The 22-year-old has shown great promise with impressive performances against some of the best players in the world. However, Draper has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming Rotterdam Open following his retirement in Melbourne due to injury. In a bid to improve his physical resilience, he has begun working with Andy Murray's former coach, Matt Little.

Draper reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, securing victories over Mariano Navone, Thanasi Kokkinakis, and Aleksandar Vukic. However, his campaign ended prematurely in the fourth round against Carlos Alcaraz, where he retired after the second set due to a hip injury.

This issue had resurfaced during his pre-season preparations and has now also led to his withdrawal from the Rotterdam Open.

The ATP 500 event in the Netherlands begins on Monday, and Draper was initially scheduled to compete. Instead, he is now expected to return for the Qatar Open, a significant tournament in Doha set to begin in a few weeks.

This competition could be a crucial opportunity for Draper to prove himself against top-tier opponents. However, managing his fitness will be essential to ensuring he can challenge elite players like Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner consistently.

In an effort to strengthen his physical conditioning, Draper is reportedly teaming up with Matt Little, Andy Murray’s former strength and conditioning coach. According to The Athletic, this partnership aims to improve Draper’s durability and help him avoid recurring injuries.

Little, who played a pivotal role in Murray’s career longevity, previously shared insights into his coaching approach in an interview with Christian Bosse:

"You must force them to put their rackets down and prioritise the physical work. So it's sitting down with the coach and the player and asking what part of the year they will say is not a priority for them on the court…"

"Then, I will also try to pick out two or three-week blocks, maybe twice more in the year, where physical development will take priority. Because if you don't do that at the start of the year, you certainly won't be doing it halfway through the year."

Despite his recent setback, Draper remains determined to return to the court as soon as possible. His sights are set on a strong 2025 season, in which he hopes to break into the ATP top rankings and consistently compete with the sport’s biggest names. With his growing experience and a renewed focus on fitness, Draper has the potential to establish himself as a formidable force on the tour.