Jack Draper: ‘My hip injury is a ticking time bomb’

Jack Draper’s mid-match retirement against the reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz was the result of a hip injury that he described as “a ticking time bomb”.

Remarkably, Draper had managed to fight through three five-set marathons, spending 12½ hours on the court, on his way to this fourth-round meeting with Alcaraz at the Australian Open.

But he explained after the match that he had never fully recovered from the hip tendinitis that he had been dealing with during his off-season training block in December.

“I was really, really sore after I played my last match,” Draper explained. “Essentially, I’ve had tendinitis in my hip, which I had to get an MRI [scan] to look at and stuff. I have had a history of problems in that area. Like, it hasn’t gone away. I’m still dealing with that.

“In the pre-season, it went into my back and I couldn’t walk and it was really difficult. I have come here and I have been managing that. Today, from the third game, I felt like I had multiple areas that were really in pain, and especially the hip.”

The retirement came after two sets of a match which, unsurprisingly, had failed to catch light. Draper seemed to be in the contest in the early stages, breaking Alcaraz’s serve to fight back from 5-2 and level at 5-5. But neither man was playing with much authority, and Draper soon dropped his serve for a second time to go down by a 7-5 margin.

The second set, which was preceded by a lengthy medical time-out, felt like more of a slog. Towards the end of it, Draper was so inhibited that he was declining to recover back to the middle of the court after being pushed wide. He wore a resigned expression as he limped back to his chair after managing just one more service hold in the set.

Would he complete the match? For a moment it seemed as if he was going to struggle on until the bitter end, but then he sensibly stood up again and shook hands. He then received a consoling hug from Alcaraz, who had been planning an off-season training week with Draper in December until the same hip issue put paid to that idea.

Afterwards, Draper told reporters that his progress to this stage of the tournament had been built on a combination of “bang-average tennis” with “my competitiveness, my fight, and my desire to win”. Not to mention stacks of painkillers.

A tall, broad and powerful figure, Draper plays an extremely physical style of tennis and must put his body through considerable wear and tear on a daily basis. “Big guys, as well, we’re kind of throwing our body around,” said Draper. “Everyone’s got their own areas where they struggle more than others, and that [the hip] is my area that I’m going to have to look after and manage for probably the rest of my career.”

It’s hardly a surprise that Draper should have found himself struggling physically on Sunday. To win three straight five-setters is a rare feat – one that has been achieved only four times at this event since the turn of the century.

We perhaps had a hint of what was coming in Draper’s reactions to his previous wins. His primary emotion after beating Mariano Navone in the first round had been one of relief. Then, after overcoming home favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis in front of a raucous crowd on Wednesday, he was exuberant. But in the aftermath of the third match in the sequence, which featured another Aussie in Aleksandar Vukic, he looked and sounded exhausted.

Hip injury that could hamper Draper throughout career explained

What is the nature of the problem?
Hip tendinitis is a chronic condition caused by overloading the hip flexors or abductors. It differs from the degenerative hip injury that ended Sir Andy Murray’s career because it is a soft-tissue problem, whereas Murray was suffering from an arthritic hip, meaning that the cartilage insulating his ball-and-socket joint had worn away.

What is the prognosis?
Draper said that there are two options for dealing with this injury: rehab in the gym or an injection to soothe the tendon. He opted for the former in pre-season but may now have to reconsider a more aggressive medical intervention, given the need to regain fitness before the season is too old. “I don’t want to get myself in a position where I’m playing through pain,” he said.

Is it a short-term or long-term issue?
Draper rather contradicted himself on this one. In his first answer, he said: “I don’t think it’s a long-term thing at all. I just need to be sensible.” But then, later on, he added: “Everyone’s got their own areas where they struggle more than others, and that’s my area that I’m going to have to look after and manage for probably the rest of my career.” In all probability, nobody is quite sure how this injury will play out.

How long has he had it?
Since the middle of November. Draper says that he took a couple of weeks off after the Paris Masters, where he was eliminated by Alex de Minaur on Halloween, and then developed the injury in his first week of off-season training.

How long did Draper have to prepare for the Australian Open?
His preparation began at the start of the month, 10 days before the event began. On the Wednesday of the build-up week, five days before his first match, he could be seen playing a practice set with Novak Djokovic on Rod Laver Arena. At that stage, though, he had not played elite tennis since the end of October.

How does he rate his performances in Melbourne?
“Considering everything,” said Draper, “I’m incredibly proud of my efforts. My tennis has been pretty bang-average. The whole week it’s been really poor, actually, but it’s been my competitiveness, my fight, and my desire to win. That’s got me into the last 16 of a grand slam, which is something I’m very proud of.”

Did he consider carrying on against Alcaraz?
It did not sound as if this was a realistic option. As Draper explained after the match, “I never like to pull out. I’m someone who likes to give my all for everything. But I’m aware that, with injuries, I just want to make right decisions, because I don’t want months out. I want to be able to play and get consistent in my body”.

06:51 AM GMT

Alcaraz with some nice words for Draper

06:46 AM GMT

Tough scenes for the Briton

06:41 AM GMT

Alcaraz takes the second set 6-1 and Draper retires

Alcaraz serves out the second set 6-1 and takes the match after Draper retires.

06:38 AM GMT

Alcaraz 7-5, 5-1 *Draper (*denotes server)

Draper gets broken again and is clearly struggling to move around the court. It looks like the hip is the area giving him trouble.

06:36 AM GMT

Draper increasingly reluctant to chase lost causes

Draper looking increasingly reluctant to chase lost causes as he fights to just stay on the court here. It’s quite flat on Rod Laver Arena – such a contrast to the cauldron-like atmosphere of his two most recent matches.

06:33 AM GMT

Alcaraz* 7-5, 4-1 Draper (*denotes server)

Alcaraz is looking to race through games, ripping forehands from the baseline and also coming in off the back of his first serve in true throwback fashion.

Spaniard holds to 30 and looks a lot more settled compared to the first set. Draper’s condition is also a factor.

06:29 AM GMT

Alcaraz 7-5, 3-1 *Draper (*denotes server)

Net cord comes to the Briton’s rescue as he saves another break point.

Alcaraz shows off his athleticism and control with a ridiculous pickup on a Draper dropshot to go back to deuce.

The Briton eventually holds with a nice drop-volley to get on the board for the first time in this second set.

Before the start of the game Draper was having words with coaching team sat courtside. Not sure what was said as there are no microphones in the coaching pods.

06:22 AM GMT

Alcaraz* 7-5, 3-0 Draper (*denotes server)

Alcaraz consolidates the break holding to love.  The No 3 seed is purring as he races to a 3-0 lead in the second set.

Draper must hold in the next game to stop the Spaniard’s run.

06:20 AM GMT

Alcaraz 7-5, 2-0 Draper* (*denotes server)

Forehand side leaking errors for the Briton who sees a 30-0 lead quickly disappear.

Alcaraz gets his first break point look at 30-40 but is unable to take it after pushing a backhand long.

He does not let up on his second opportunity as he rips a forehand down the line to break!

06:14 AM GMT

Alcaraz* 7-5, 1-0 Draper (*denotes server)

Alcaraz takes the opening game of the second set but not before throwing in some erratic unforced errors in keeping with the first set.

Draper is clearly feeling the strain but is still chasing every ball and asking questions of Alcaraz. Big game coming up for the Briton.

06:08 AM GMT

Pump of the fist for Alcaraz

06:06 AM GMT

Draper heads off court

The Briton has left Rod Laver Arena for a medical timeout. He was pointing to his hip area when he was speaking to the physio.

06:04 AM GMT

Scratchy opening set

A scratchy set, if we’re honest, with Draper’s weary body probably a factor in his low first-serve percentage of 53. Against a man ranked second in the ATP return statistics (behind only Australian No1 Alex De Minaur), this is asking for trouble and Draper was broken twice. Alcaraz has been patchy, missing more often than we might have expected, but he might relax a little with the first set under his belt. Now Draper has taken a medical time-out.

06:01 AM GMT

Alcaraz takes the first set 7-5

Alcaraz turns to the tried and trusted dropshot as Draper falls 0-30 behind.

The Spaniard gets a look at two set points, Draper saves the first with a deep volley to Alcaraz’s forehand but is unable to save the second as Alcaraz fires down a lethal backhand pass down the line on set point. Classy way to close out the set!

05:56 AM GMT

Alcaraz* 6-5 Draper (*denotes server)

Important hold from Alcaraz from 0-30 down.

The Spaniard was pumped for that game and tightened things up from the back of the court which forced Draper to make a some unforced errors from the baseline.

05:52 AM GMT

Alcaraz 5-5 Draper* (*denotes server)

Huge hold from Draper! The Briton draws level thanks to another Alcaraz error at 40-30. The Spaniard seems unsettled after having a long conversation with umpire Fergus Murphy about the towel walk.

05:50 AM GMT

Draper sleeve

Draper is now wearing a sleeve on his serving arm and doesn’t look the freshest, but he’s still showing plenty of heart, and Alcaraz’s second serve is a worry: he has five double-faults already.

05:47 AM GMT

Alcaraz* 5-4 Draper (*denotes server)

Alcaraz throws down two double faults to fall 15-30 behind then draws level at 30-30 thanks to another dropshot.

Draper then gets a look at another break point after Alcaraz dumps a midcourt forehand into the net. The Briton breaks back after another unforced error from the Spaniard.

05:42 AM GMT

Alcaraz 5-3 Draper* (*denotes server)

Ace, his second of the match, to get things started. Alcaraz makes it 15-15 with an aggressive forehand return and then wins the next point with a 141kmh forehand down the line.

Draper hits his second ace of the game to make it 40-30 and then digs out a forehand passing shot on the run to win the game.

05:39 AM GMT

Alcaraz* 5-2 Draper (*denotes server)

And the answer is yes! But not before Draper hits his two stunning return winners.

Alcaraz eventually secures his third game in a row with a nice volley.

Draper will come out and serve to stay in the set with new balls.

05:36 AM GMT

Alcaraz 4-2 Draper* (*denotes server)

Alcaraz breaks! It has been coming. Both men have had opportunities to break early on but it is Draper who blinks first and concedes the opening break of the match. Now can the Spaniard hold to make it 5-2?

05:33 AM GMT

Alcaraz taking a while to warm up

Not the cleanest start from Alcaraz, who has made 12 unforced errors in just five games. Sometimes he needs some adrenaline to spur him on, and he found some better tennis from 15-40 down in that last service game, coming back to hold.

05:30 AM GMT

Alcaraz* 3-2 Draper (*denotes server)

Draper races to a 0-30 lead after some uncharacteristic unforced errors from Alcaraz.

Alcaraz double faults at 15-30 to give Draper a look at two break points. He saves the first with a well-placed first serve and the second after a 12-shot rally then wins the game with a lovely dropshot.

05:24 AM GMT

Alcaraz 2-2 Draper* (*denotes server)

From 15-40 down Draper holds after serving the first ace of the match at deuce before a nice forehand from the baseline wrong foots the Spaniard. Big hold for the Briton!

05:22 AM GMT

Draper feeling it in his legs

It looked like Draper was shaking out his left leg in that last Alcaraz service game, which speaks to the exhausting twelve-and-a-half hours he has spent on the match court just to reach this stage. Meanwhile, this is the first time I’ve had a good look at the new Alcaraz service motion. He has cleaned up the flow and it’s looking like a sensible tweak.

05:21 AM GMT

Spaniard closes the net

05:19 AM GMT

Alcaraz* 2-1 Draper (*denotes server)

It has been a bit of a dropshot clinic as both men have looked to use the shot in the early exchanges.

Alcaraz holds to 15 after another relatively comfortable service game that he closes out with a serve-volley combo.

05:15 AM GMT

Alcaraz 1-1 Draper* (*denotes server)

Draper starts confidently winning the opening point of his first service game.

Alcaraz hits a forehand return winner to make it 15-15, double faults at 30-15 and engages in another lengthy baseline rally and wins the point but is unable to close out the game as Alcaraz gets a look at a break point that he is unable to convert.

The Spaniard gets a second break point but Draper superbly fends it off with a lovely forehand dropshot. Good hold from the Briton who had to save a couple of break points early on.

05:08 AM GMT

Alcaraz* 1-0 Draper (*denotes server)

Alcaraz lands his first serve of the match and sees Draper hit the net.

The Briton makes it 15-15 after a long rally before Alcaraz retakes the lead. The Spaniard double faults at 40-15 but eventually holds to 30.

05:01 AM GMT

Hot and humid conditions in Melbourne

Good afternoon from Melbourne where it is hot and humid: real shirt-clinging weather. Jack Draper won’t be too chuffed about being asked to play in the daytime, after finishing his third-round win over Aleksandar Vukic at 12.55am on Friday night / Saturday morning. There is some high cloud moderating the power of the sun, but the players are still casting shadows and it’s going to be gruelling.

04:58 AM GMT

Players are on court warming up

Jack Draper is the first to enter Rod Laver and is closely followed by Carlos Alcaraz.

Draper wins the toss and elects to return.

04:42 AM GMT

Gauff gets it done!

Coco Gauff is through to the quarter-finals after coming back from a set down to beat Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1. The 20-year-old American, who is unbeaten in 2025, will face Paula Badosa next.

04:34 AM GMT

Paula Badosa books her place in the last eight

04:26 AM GMT

Britons in men’s doubles

Jack Draper may be the only remaining Briton in the singles draw in Melbourne but there is British interest in the third round of the men’s doubles thanks to 11th seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool who face Ariel Behar and Robert Galloway.

There is also a Briton-Finnish partnership in the shape of Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara. The sixth seeds take on Americans Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek.

Both matches are scheduled to take place on Monday.

06:06 PM GMT

Good morning

Good morning and welcome to coverage of this men’s fourth-round match between 15th seed Jack Draper of Great Britain and third seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain.

This is new territory for Draper. His best run in Melbourne was a second-round showing last year in his second appearance at the season’s opening major, but the 23-year-old is a different player 12 months on.

The Briton has played a lot of tennis this tournament, 15 sets to be precise across three matches that have kept him on court for just over 12½ hours – and has twice come back from a set down.

His third-round match against Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic was his shortest of the lot at three hours 58 minutes but it was a gruelling effort from Draper who dealt with the occasion and the boisterous crowd well.

The lefty credited his breathing coach for his newfound poise on the court after his latest victory on Friday. “I’ve been trying to reverse what I do and breathe through my nose a lot better and a lot more,” he said. Simon Briggs has more on that here.

As for Alcaraz, he is bidding to make it to the quarter-finals in Melbourne for the second year in a row. Unlike Draper, the four-time grand slam champion has only dropped one set en route to the last 16 and that was in his third-round match against Portugal’s Nuno Borges.

The 21-year-old has also spent nearly five hours less on court which could be a huge factor.

The Spaniard is aiming to become the youngest player to complete the career grand slam in men’s singles history after winning Wimbledon (2024, 2023), Roland Garros (2024) and the US Open (2022). The slam Down Under is the only one missing from the phenom’s cabinet.

Alcaraz leads the head-to-head 2-1 but Draper won their most recent encounter in straight sets at Queen’s last summer.

Draper-Alcaraz has a not before 4:30am UK start time but that now looks subject to whatever time Coco Gauff and Belinda Bencic finish. The ladies have just started the deciding set.