Jack Draper ends season, targets January return

Jack Draper will not play again this season. He aims to return to the tour at the start of next year.

The former world No 4 confirmed the decision on Instagram, saying he is taking time to reset and heal so he returns 100% ready, as reported by BBC Sport.

The problem is bone bruising in his serving arm. His team is still working through the main causes of the injury. He is expected to build back to full training gradually over the next few weeks.

It closes a stop-start stretch. Draper has played only nine events since last year's Wimbledon. He missed the US Open after first-round defeats in Montreal and Cincinnati, and was in tears during his loss to France's Terence Atmane in Canada.

Earlier this season his attempted comeback was also stalled by tendinitis in his knee. The rhythm never returned. Two matches in North America were enough to convince him and his team to stop.

The lay-off has cost him dearly in the rankings. He peaked at No 4 last June after winning Indian Wells, his first Masters 1000 title at the level just below the Grand Slams, and finishing runner-up in Madrid. He is now ranked 155.

That number matters. Players out for more than six months can use a protected ranking, a frozen ranking that gets them into tournaments on return. Draper will not qualify for that cover if he is back in January. At 155, he would need wildcards, invitations straight into the main draw, or have to come through qualifying, a pre-event knockout, to play Grand Slams and ATP Tour events.

To ease the load on his arm, Draper has started to tinker with his kit. He long used polyester strings and has been testing natural gut, a softer string. He has also moved to a lighter racquet and is making changes to his serve.

Andy Murray remains part of his coaching team but will spend only a limited number of weeks on the road. Over the summer Draper was helped by LTA coaches James Trotman and Alex Lisiecki.

For fans, this means patience. Draper at his best asks brutal questions with that lefty serve and forehand. The wall is going quiet for a few months. The hope is it answers back in January.