British tennis star Emma Raducanu has voiced her strong support for compatriot Jack Draper as he prepares to make his competitive return following a significant injury absence.
Raducanu's Empathetic Support for Draper's Comeback
Draper, 24, has been sidelined with bone bruising in his left arm, managing just one match since Wimbledon last year. The injury also ruled him out of the start of the 2026 season, including the planned team-up with Raducanu at the United Cup and the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Raducanu, who spoke to the Press Association, revealed she had seen Draper training in December and believed he was close to being ready. "Obviously his injury has been going on for a while and it can’t be easy," she said, "but I’m sure he’ll recover and be better, stronger when he comes back, like he always is."
The current plan is for Draper to make his long-awaited return to the court at Britain’s Davis Cup tie against Norway next month.
Shared Experience of Injury Setbacks
Raducanu's support is rooted in personal experience. In 2023, she underwent surgeries on both wrists and one ankle, forcing her to miss three Grand Slam tournaments, including Wimbledon.
"It’s really difficult," Raducanu admitted. "For me, when I missed grand slams, I couldn’t watch them because it was too raw, too tough to watch." She empathised with Draper's situation, suggesting the best approach is to "stay in your zone, your bubble" and focus on daily progress.
However, the former US Open champion also offered a note of caution about immediate expectations. She highlighted the specific challenges of returning from a lay-off: "I think the hardest thing is moving, seeing the ball... When you haven’t played, you feel two steps slow, and getting that movement back and anticipation is very difficult."
Raducanu's Own Australian Open Campaign
Raducanu herself arrived in Melbourne under an injury cloud, having managed a foot problem throughout her pre-season training. Despite the disrupted preparation, she recovered in time and secured a first-round victory against Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew.
Her next challenge is a second-round match on Wednesday against Russian-born Austrian player Anastasia Potapova, a rival she has long admired. "I remember watching Anastasia all through juniors," Raducanu said. "She was always the player to watch and beat... I know it’s going to be a really tricky one."
In a lighter note from her opening match, Raducanu thanked her super-fan James Bray, who cheered her on loudly and nicknamed her 'Raddo'. Bray, who was contacted by Raducanu's agent, now has tickets to her next match and hopes to see her progress all the way to the final at Rod Laver Arena.
