An injury prevention expert warns Draper: "He must be aware that something must change, otherwise he will end up having a very short career"

Absent since the US Open due to an arm injury, Jack Draper is preparing for his return to competition next month at UTS London.

© AFP

Adrien Guyot

le 27/11/2025 à 10h21

2 min to read

Del Potro Draper

Jack Draper is set to make his return to competition soon. The British player, absent from the tour since his withdrawal before the second round of the US Open against Zizou Bergs, is preparing to compete in the UTS London in early December. Injured in his left arm since Wimbledon, the 23-year-old player gritted his teeth before finally ending his season in September.

Draper could have a short career according to this injury expert

A great talent, the winner of the Indian Wells Masters 1000 this year has not been spared from physical issues since the start of his career. Moreover, Stephen Smith, an Irish expert in wellness and injury prevention at the highest level, is concerned about Draper. According to him, the current world number 10 player will have to change something in his physical work to avoid risking a premature end to his career.

"By studying Draper's case, I would say we are dealing with a case of repetitive strain. Given the way he rotates his joints and how the bones undergo these repetitive movements, it is very likely that all of this is due to the combination of his serve and his forehand.

This causes bone bruises due to a repetitive motion like his, which require a lot of rest because ultimately, it ends up behaving as if it were a fracture. There is even a risk of bone fracture. Therefore, it is important to take this very seriously, as it can be dangerous.

If you return to competition before the estimated recovery time and continue to hit the ball in the same way, the areas will become inflamed again, the pain will become more and more intense, until it reaches a point where the player will suffer a stress fracture.

That is why these problems are usually treated like fractures. You must take a break of 6 to 8 weeks, stop the activity until you are fully healed. I often think of Juan Martín Del Potro, another incredible talent, a player who had one of the most powerful forehands we have ever seen in this sport, but ultimately, his greatest strength ended up being his biggest problem.

He suffered from all these wrist problems, he underwent all these surgeries, but the initial problem was not there. His case worries me, it is a sign that there is probably something wrong in the management. I don't know if it's a lack of factors, an excess of strength, optimal physical conditioning work, or maybe just an adjustment in how the schedule is planned or how training sessions are coordinated.

With his injury history at his age, Jack (Draper) must be aware that something has to change, otherwise he will end up having a very short career," he stated for Punto de Break in recent hours.