Jack Draper has voiced out that tennis must change its annual calendar to accommodate the volume of injuries sustained in tournaments.
“We are pushing our bodies to do things that they aren’t supposed to in elite sport. We have so many incredible younger guys on the tour right now, and I’m proud to be a part of that.
“However, the tour and the calendar have to adapt if any of us are going to achieve some sort of longevity.”
Last month, Draper announced that he will miss the rest of the 2025 tennis season because of an arm injury that forced him to withdraw from the US Open. Adding to the list, British No. 1 Emma Raducanu had to receive medical assistance at the Ningbo Open and Wuhan Open due to lower back pain.
24-time Grand Slam Champion, Novak Djokovic, withdrew from his third-place playoff match against Taylor Fritz as he lost his first set. He shared a post on Twitter, “Dear Paris, unfortunately, I’ll not compete at this year’s @RolexPMasters.
“I have amazing memories and great success over the years, especially being able to conquer the title seven times. Hope to see you next year. Merci.”
22-year-old Holger Rune is also part of the list, as he is in recovery mode after withdrawing from the Nordic Open, as he suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury.
Sharing an update on Instagram, it reads, “It’s going to be a while before I can step on court again. It’s tough. I had so much joy on court in Stockholm, and it’s unbearable to think that I will not feel this energy for some time now”.
Other top players who have stepped down are Naomi Osaka, Daria Kasatkina, Elina Svitolina, and Paula Badosa, who have all been affected by fitness concerns.
