British tennis star Jack Draper is scheduled to make his competitive return at the ATP Eastbourne tournament next week under the guidance of two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray. Draper has been sidelined since the Barcelona Open in April, where he suffered a right knee tendon injury during a match against Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry. The injury forced the world No. 113 to withdraw from Madrid, Rome, Roland-Garros, and the recent Queen’s Club Championships.
With Wimbledon approaching, Draper aims to build match fitness and test his physical limits on the grass courts. His withdrawal from Queen’s delayed his comeback, but Eastbourne remains the primary target for his return to the ATP tour. He has played only nine competitive matches in 2026 following a 12-month period plagued by knee, elbow, and serving shoulder issues.
Murray has stepped in as a temporary coach and advisor for the grass-court campaign. The former world No. 1, who retired following the 2024 Paris Olympics and spent four months coaching Novak Djokovic earlier in 2025, issued a recent positive update regarding Draper’s progress. Murray described Draper’s current practice form as “bloody good” and noted that the younger Brit is a “more complete player” than he initially realized.
The coaching arrangement comes with strict logistical boundaries to accommodate Murray’s family life, specifically allowing him to drop off and pick up his children from school. Draper is heavily viewed as the new torchbearer for British men’s tennis, taking the mantle directly from Murray, who carried the nation’s hopes at the All England Club for over a decade. Eastbourne is the immediate testing ground for Draper’s recovery as he prepares for the high expectations of the home crowd.