The big question standing between Jack Draper and a pivotal next step in 2025
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The British No 1 had a breakthrough 2024 season but has already withdrawn from events in 2025 ahead of the start of the Australian Open this Sunday. Rewind 12 months, and the overriding memory of Jack Draper’s time down under was not one for the squeamish. In the first round, the Brit defeated Marcos Giron in three hours and 20 minutes for his first five-set victory. But there was no time for rapturous celebration – and barely any time for a handshake at the net.
![[Draper enjoyed a breakthrough 2024 season]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/02/14/GettyImages-2182149854.jpg)
Draper quickly ran to a courtside bin to vomit, amid 30C temperatures in the Melbourne sun. Earlier in the match, his pulse and blood pressure were taken before he admirably recovered from a deficit on the scoreboard. It would not be his first conditioning issue of 2024: Draper was sick on the court during his US Open semi-final defeat to Jannik Sinner in September as well.
![[The British No 1 vomited during the Australian Open last year]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/02/14/GettyImages-1936631499.jpg)
And heading into 2025, doubts over Draper’s health linger as he takes on Andy Murray’s mantle as the country’s leading men’s tennis player. That’s Andy Murray: Novak Djokovic’s new coach. Draper, 23, withdrew from last week’s United Cup and has already confirmed he won’t participate in Great Britain’s Davis Cup tie in Japan at the end of the month. This time, a hip injury is the issue; an issue which forced him to cancel plans to train with four-time grand slam winner Carlos Alcaraz in the off-season.
![[Draper claimed his maiden tour title in Stuttgart last summer]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/17/09/16-855c2ce7cdd44427bb04b04428803cf3.jpg)
Draper intends to take to the court as the Australian Open begins, and the British No 1 will open with a first-round match against Argentina’s Mariano Navona. However, ambitions of another deep hard-court run into the second week, where he could face Alcaraz in the fourth round, are somewhat open to question.
![[Draper wants to follow in Andy Murray’s footsteps]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/08/25/21/b2879d108b8a55b2ff69dcf26f24528dY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzI0NzAxODAx-2.76551051.jpg)
