Australian Open 2025: Why Jack Draper had to retire against Carlos Alcaraz

Draper loved the best 12 months of his profession in 2024 – successful his first ATP titles, changing into British primary and reaching the US Open semi-finals – and was trying ahead to additional enhancing his bodily robustness earlier than the beginning of the 2025 season.

However his hip harm, which Draper says flared up after a “week of pre-season” in December, ended these plans.

“Primarily I had tendinitis in my hip, which I needed to get an MRI to have a look at,” he stated.

“I’ve had a historical past of issues in that space and it hasn’t gone away. I am nonetheless coping with that.

“In pre-season, it went into my again and I could not stroll. It was actually troublesome.”

Draper stated he was unable to play for “about two to 3 weeks” earlier than flying to Australia between Christmas and New 12 months.

He started hitting once more at Melbourne Park earlier than enjoying apply units towards Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner within the days main as much as his opening match.

“It’s important to really feel so sorry for him,” former British primary Annabel Croft stated on BBC Radio 5 Sports activities Additional.

“Every time he comes again there is a setback and also you lose that momentum and coaching time.

“A whole lot of gamers put their 12 months into blocks, of competitors, relaxation and coaching, and he is being compromised on a regular basis as a result of his physique is letting him down.”