Injury struggles 'like watching your decline' - Draper

Jack Draper says he felt he was watching his own decline during his recent injury struggles - but the Briton does not picture his career "being all injuries".

The 24-year-old will make his competitive return to action at Eastbourne on Monday after struggling with injuries to his arm, knee and shoulder in the past year.

Draper's injury problems began at Wimbledon last year, when he was having the best run of his career.

In an 18-month period, Draper reached a Grand Slam semi-final, reached a high of fourth in the world rankings and won his first ATP 1000 title at Indian Wells.

But bone bruising in his serving arm led to his cutting his 2025 season short - and he has only been able to play 11 matches in the past year.

A knee injury, picked up on the clay courts of Barcelona in April, has kept him on the sidelines for two months.

He will face world number 32 and recent Queen's semi-finalist Brandon Nakashima in his first match back.

"Tennis is a tough sport because I was top 10 in the world, doing great things, and you're losing your ranking every week," Draper said.

"It's not like a football team where you can have a substitute come in and take your place. It's like you're watching your decline.

"I don't believe I'm an injured athlete - I'm a strong athlete. I don't picture my career being all injuries."

Draper will have to fight his way back up the rankings, having fallen out of the top 100 during his lay-off.

He is in the main draw for Wimbledon, which begins a week after Eastbourne on Monday, 29 June, but will be hoping to get plenty of match practice on the grass courts this week.

"I don't know how these competitions [Eastbourne and Wimbledon] are going to go in terms of my wins and losses," Draper said.

"I want this period to be past me now, of dipping in and out of the tour and coming back for one or two weeks.

"I feel like I'm able to be the player I want to be again on the court, which is a really great thing after a year of struggle."

Draper will be accompanied in Eastbourne by three-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one Andy Murray.

Murray has joined up with Draper for the grass-court season but told BBC Sport he he hopes to work with him on a long-term basis.

Two-time Wimbledon winner Murray is set to be courtside to watch Draper take on fifth seed Nakashima at Devonshire Park.

"I've lost a lot of confidence in my body over the last year and having someone who believes in you is a big positive," Draper added.

"Our relationship is very special, and that gives me a bit more energy, especially in a moment where I'm coming back and need to have that good energy around me."