‘Why?’ – Jack Draper’s Sudden Withdrawal Rubs Boris Becker the Wrong Way As He Questions DC Open Presence

Jack Draper has withdrawn from the Mubadala DC Open, and the tennis world is getting concerned. After coming back from a persistent left-arm injury, this is the second consecutive time the 24-year-old has exited from a tournament on the exact eve of his opening match.

After Draper’s last-minute withdrawal from Wimbledon, a tournament he previously claimed he was fit enough to play, the legendary player, coach, and commentator Boris Becker had a question about the former British No. 1’s withdrawals.

Becker Questions Jack Draper’s Fitness and 11th-Hour Withdrawals From Tournaments

In the last year, Draper has played only 14 matches. The last major he played was the 2025 US Open. He returned to the court in February this year and played the hard-court tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami, but during the Barcelona Open, a case of knee tendinitis sidelined him again.

Then, after welcoming Andy Murray into his coaching team in May, he made a brief return on grass at Eastbourne but had to rule himself out of Wimbledon on the eve of his first-round match against Taylor Fritz due to his lingering arm issue.

Reacting to the DC Open withdrawal news, Sky Sports broadcaster Marcus Buckland posted a reality check on X, sympathizing with Draper:

“Easy to go hard on Jack Draper + bemoan another withdrawal. But imagine how hard it is for the player himself. Brutal sport – Massive highs but so much jeopardy. Wishing him back to full fitness asap because he’s a proper player.”

But Becker was searching for a logical answer behind this eleventh-hour cancellation. Replying to Buckland’s post, the former German pro wrote, “Why does he often pull out day before the tournament…? He seemed to have good practice session with Shelton only yesterday!?!”

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It was just a day ago that Draper said that he felt better than he had at any point in the last 12 months. “I’ve had an incredibly challenging 12 months, a lot of adversity, a lot of problem-solving, a lot of pain, and trying to understand that and come through it.

“I’ve never had a long-term injury before, so I feel much better than I ever have in the last year. I feel physically really good,” the Brit said to reporters. He also had a practice session in Washington, where he won a set 6-1 against Shelton.

However, Draper will be targeting upcoming Masters tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati as crucial stepping stones to rebuild his momentum ahead of New York.

The clock is ticking toward the US Open, where he is scheduled to partner with Jessica Pegula for the marquee mixed doubles event as per the initial entry list, before the singles draw kicks off on Aug. 30.