Emma Raducanu backs Jack Draper to return to court stronger after injury lay-off

Emma Raducanu has backed Jack Draper to return stronger from his long injury lay-off.

Draper has played only one match since Wimbledon because of bone bruising in his left arm and did not recover in time for the start of this season.

The 24-year-old had been due to team up with his fellow British number one Raducanu at the United Cup to start 2026 before heading to the Australian Open, but he is instead planning to make his return at next month’s Davis Cup tie against Norway.

Raducanu told the Press Association: “I saw him throughout December and I think he was very close to coming out here.

“Obviously his injury has been going on for a while and it can’t be easy but I’m sure he’ll recover and be better, stronger when he comes back, like he always is. We missed him in the team at United Cup but I really hope we can both make it next year.”

Raducanu can empathise with Draper having sat out three grand slams, including Wimbledon, in 2023 after she underwent operations on both wrists and one ankle.

“It’s really difficult,” she said. “For me, when I missed grand slams, I couldn’t watch them because it was too raw, too tough to watch.

“I’m not sure what he’s up to but I found it really difficult so it can’t be easy. But I know just working on the right things day to day, just trying to stay in your zone, your bubble, is the best way to get through it.”

Raducanu was also a doubt for the Australian Open after a foot problem throughout pre-season left her playing catch-up, but she recovered just in time and overcame a slow start to win her opening match in Melbourne against Mananchaya Sawangkaew.

The former US Open champion cautioned against too high expectations for Draper straight away, saying of her experience of returning from injuries: “I think the hardest thing is moving, seeing the ball.

“It’s something that you take for granted when you’ve played a few matches and you’re in a good momentum, you seem to just read the ball earlier, read the game, read the situations and play the big points better.

“When you haven’t played, you feel two steps slow, and getting that movement back and anticipation is very difficult.”

Raducanu was unimpressed by being scheduled in the night session on Sunday for her opening match but the positive is, having prevailed, she now has two days to prepare for a second-round clash with Russian-turned-Austrian Anastasia Potapova on Wednesday.

They have not contested a match before but Raducanu has been aware of Potapova’s talent for a long time, saying: “I remember watching Anastasia all through juniors. I was the year below her.

“She was always the player to watch and beat through juniors. She’s been very high ranked, as well, in the pros. A big hitter. I know it’s going to be a really tricky one. I need to just gather my strength and prepare as best as possible.”

In the crowd, meanwhile, will be Raducanu’s super fan James Bray, who the 23-year-old thanked after he nicknamed her ‘Raddo’ and cheered her on loudly against Sawangkaew.

He told the Herald Sun: “Her agent reached out, I’ve got tickets to the next match, so I’m hoping she makes the grand slam final because I would love to go to Rod Laver Arena.”