Jack Draper Ruled Out of French Open With Knee Injury

Jack Draper has been ruled out of the French Open with a knee injury. It is another blow in his attempt to re-establish himself after a long-term arm injury ruled him out for the best part of eight months. Draper has managed nine matches in five events since returning in February and retired during his first-round match with Tomás Martín Etcheverry at the Barcelona Open this month. He was diagnosed with an aggravated knee tendon injury and had initially hoped to return before the second grand slam of the year next month. However, the Briton has decided not to attempt to put his body through the rigours of best-of-five-set tennis on clay and will instead focus on recovering for the grass-court season. Writing on Instagram, he said: "My knee is on the mend and I've started back hitting balls but unfortunately I have been advised not to play Roland Garros. As gutting as it is to miss another slam, the advice is not to rush straight back into playing five-set tennis on clay. "Off the back of the arm injury I sustained last year, I've been restricted with my training and by giving myself the time to heal and build, I can be the player I want to be out there once again. See you soon!" It is another dispiriting setback for the 24-year-old, who less than a year ago was ranked in the world's top four and appeared a potential challenger to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner for the major titles. Now he joins Alcaraz in missing Roland Garros and is almost certain to be outside the top 100 when he returns. It continues a disappointing season for the leading Britons, with Emma Raducanu sidelined as she recovers from post-viral symptoms after an illness in early February. Sonay Kartal has ruled herself out of the French Open with a back injury suffered at the Miami Open last month while Fran Jones and Jacob Fearnley have also been struggling with fitness. Cameron Norrie, who will return to the world's top 20 next month, and Katie Boulter were the only Briton's taking part in singles at the Madrid Open and it could well be the same for the Italian Open in Rome next week unless Raducanu makes it. The main draw of the French Open begins on 24 May, with the women's and men's finals taking place on 6 and 7 June respectively.