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Jack Draper's Australian Open Decision Reshapes the Field

How Jack Draper's announcement on the Australian Open will reshape the field.
Pat Benson|
Jack Draper's Australian Open decision will reshape the field.
Jack Draper's Australian Open decision will reshape the field. | Mike Frey-Imagn Images

On Friday afternoon, Jack Draper announced that he would not compete in the 2026 Australian Open. The top-ranked British player shared the news with an emotional video on social media.

After a strong first half of 2025, Draper missed almost all of the second half of the season. He suffered a bruised humerus on his serving arm during the clay-court season in April.

Draper continued to play through the pain during the grass-court season before taking time off after Wimbledon. He pulled out of the US Open and the recent UTS exhibition in December.

Jack Draper's Announcement

"Hello, everybody. Instead of writing out a message, I figured I'd send out a little video recording to let you know that, unfortunately, me and my team have decided not to make the trip out to Australia this year. It's a really, really tough decision," said Draper.

"Obviously, with Australia being a Grand Slam, it's one of the biggest tournaments in our sport. However, I've had this injury for a long time. I'm at the very, very end stages of the process, and to step back on court into best-of-five-set tennis so soon just doesn't seem like a smart decision right now for me and my tennis."

He added, "I've obviously been through a fair amount of setbacks, but by far, this one has been the most difficult, the most challenging, the most complex one that I've had." Draper finished the video on an optimistic note about 2026.

How It Reshapes the Australian Open Field

Despite missing significant time in 2025, Draper finished the year as the ATP World No. 10 with a singles record of 30-9 with one singles title. A top-ten player pulling out of the Grand Slam tournament immediately shakes up the field from top to bottom.

The ATP Rankings could shift a little bit in early January, but if the draw were held today, Alexander Bublik would be the tenth seed. Perhaps Casper Ruud or Daniil Medvedev, depending on how early-season tournaments down under go.

Additionally, Draper's withdrawal from the tournament frees up one spot for a potential qualifier looking to squeeze into the Major. According to edgeAI, the highest-ranked alternate, Vít Kopřiva (No. 102), is expected to move into the main draw.

Australian Open Draw

Qualifiers for the Australian Open run from January 12-15, with the draw ceremony taking place on Thursday, January 15. The main draw kicks off on Sunday, January 18. The action concludes for the women on Saturday, January 31, and the men on Sunday, February 1.

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Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers professional tennis for Serve on Sports Illustrated, reporting on ATP and WTA events worldwide. From Challenger tournaments to Grand Slams, he brings readers in-depth coverage, daily recaps, and exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport. With a decade of experience in sports journalism, Pat is recognized as a trusted voice in tennis media. You can contact him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.

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