Jack Draper has withdrawn from Queen’s, with the Briton now aiming to make his return at Eastbourne before Wimbledon.
The 24-year-old has pulled out of the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club as he continues his recovery from injury, leaving him with a shorter grass-court preparation than planned.
Draper is now targeting Eastbourne, which falls immediately before Wimbledon and gives him one final competitive window before the grass-court major begins.
Draper said his recovery is moving in the right direction, but he will not rush back at Queen’s.
“Recovery is going in the right direction, but I’m going to give myself one more week and aim to return at Eastbourne,” Draper said.
He added: “Very hard to miss one of my favourite events of the year.”
Jack Draper targets Eastbourne after Queen’s withdrawal
The decision means Draper will miss one of the most important British events in the build-up to Wimbledon.
Queen’s would have offered Draper a chance to test his movement, rhythm and confidence on grass after another disrupted spell away from competition.
Instead, his return is now being pushed back by another week.
That makes Eastbourne a more important staging point than it might otherwise have been. Draper is not simply using it as routine preparation. It is now the event that should show how close he is to match sharpness before Wimbledon.
The key detail is that Draper has not framed this as a major setback. His own words point to progress, but also caution.
That is the sensible reading of the situation. Draper is close enough to name a return target, but not ready enough to commit to Queen’s.
Wimbledon preparation now depends on a short Eastbourne window
Draper’s build-up has already been interrupted. The Guardian reported that he has not competed since hurting his knee at the start of the clay-court season, shortly after returning from a serious arm injury.
That matters because Wimbledon preparation is rarely just about fitness. It is also about timing, movement and match feel, especially on grass.
Draper can still get that at Eastbourne, but the margin is now smaller.
There is also a wider context around his camp. Andy Murray has joined Draper’s coaching team for the grass-court season, adding another layer of interest around his return.
That should not change the basic priority. Draper needs to be ready physically before anything else.
Queen’s would have been valuable, but forcing a comeback there would have carried its own risk. Eastbourne now becomes the clearest indicator of where Draper stands before Wimbledon.
The next week will show whether the extra recovery time has given him what he needs.
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