Jack Draper has delayed the start of his clay-court season by pulling out of the Monte-Carlo Masters.
The British star had been hoping to kick-start his 2026 clay-court season in Monte Carlo – live on Sky Sports Tennis between 5-12 April – but his quest for a maiden clay court title will have to wait.
It remains to be seen whether Draper will play at his next scheduled event after an arm injury that derailed his 2025 season – the Barcelona Open, which runs from April 13-19.
Highlights of the Indian Wells match between Jack Draper and Novak Djokovic
The 24-year-old returned to action during Great Britain’s Davis Cup victory against Norway in February having played just one match since Wimbledon in July, before competing in Doha.
He made a superb run to the quarter-finals at Indian Wells earlier this month as defending champion, defeating former world No 1 Novak Djokovic in the fourth round, and then losing his opening match at the Miami Open to Reilly Opelka.
Draper will now skip the first tournament of the clay-court swing in the Principality.
What does missing Monte-Carlo mean for Draper?
He did not play a tour-level tournament for six months because of a bruised humerus bone and revealed to Sky Sports he was “in a hole” due to the “complex” nature of his injury.
Draper stressed he was set on defending his Indian Wells title and although he put a superb run, Draper was unable to maintain his form in Miami.
Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, Tim Henman said of Draper: “He’s back playing on the tour but at the level where he was 12 months ago winning the title here – he’s still just got to keep building. Form is temporary, class is permanent.
“Jack is definitely on the way back!”
After Barcelona, Draper has Munich, Hamburg and Geneva as well as Masters 1000 events in Madrid and Rome as potential options before the start of the French Open at Roland Garros from May 24 to June 7.
Highlights of the final between Draper and Holger Rune at Indian Wells last year
He left his mark on the dirt last year, becoming the first British player to reach a Masters 1000 final on clay since Andy Murray in 2016, during his run to the final of the Madrid Open – narrowly losing out in three sets to Casper Ruud.
The Brit backed that up by making the quarter-finals in Rome, and enjoyed a fourth round run at the French Open – his best performance to date.
Djokovic also out of Masters 1000 event
Djokovic was beaten by Draper in a thriller at Indian Wells
The 38-year-old Serb captured the Monte-Carlo Masters titles in 2013 and 2015.
Djokovic is next scheduled to compete at another clay ATP Masters 1000 event, the Mutua Madrid Open. The main-draw action in the Spanish capital takes place from April 22 to May 3.
Former US Open finalist Taylor Fritz has also withdrawn from the tournament due to injury as well as fellow Americans Ben Shelton and Sebastian Korda.
The influx of late withdrawals has opened the door for Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Daniel Altmaier into the main draw directly.
British No 1 Cameron Norrie will head into this year’s clay swing in the hope of continuing his fine form which has seen him edge closer to the world’s top 20 following a quarter-final run at Indian Wells.
He reached the semi-finals appearance at the Geneva Open and the fourth round of the French Open in 2025 where he fell short to Novak Djokovic on both occasions.
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