Jack Draper says tennis tour must adapt after Holger Rune joins long injury list
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Britain's Jack Draper in action against Federico Agustin Gomez of Argentina in the first round of the US Open in September. An arm injury later forced him to withdraw from the competition.
PHOTO: REUTERS
BENGALURU – World No. 9 Jack Draper said the men’s ATP Tour must review its packed calendar if young players are to have long careers, after Holger Rune sustained a serious injury on Oct 18 and joined a growing list of players breaking down as the season nears its end.
The relentless men and women’s tennis circuits, which run for 11 months, have come under a harsh spotlight in recent weeks with a string of high-profile players, including Draper, pulling out of tournaments and prematurely ending their seasons.
Several female players have also struggled with health and fitness concerns in the ongoing Asian swing of the WTA Tour, with the likes of Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu,
Draper, who is nursing an arm injury that forced him out of September’s US Open, said physical issues were inevitable in a demanding sport like tennis. His comments came after Dane Rune, 22, was left in tears in Stockholm with a suspected torn Achilles.
“Injuries are going to happen,” the 23-year-old Briton said on social media. “We are pushing our bodies to do things that they aren’t supposed to in elite sport. We have so many incredible younger guys on the tour right now and I’m proud to be a part of that.
“However, the tour and the calendar have to adapt if any of us are going to achieve some sort of longevity.”
American Taylor Fritz, who won his Six Kings Slam exhibition match in Riyadh on Oct 18 after Novak Djokovic retired injured, said changes are needed. “Facts, also seeing more injuries and burnout now than ever before,” the world No. 4 said.
“Because balls, courts, conditions have slowed down a lot, making the weekly grind even more physically demanding and tough on the body.”
Reuters has contacted the ATP Tour for comment.
Women’s world No. 2 Iga Swiatek said the smart option for her amid a gruelling schedule would be to cut her commitments
Carlos Alcaraz agreed with the Pole, but the men’s world No. 1 later defended his move to play in the lucrative Saudi Arabia exhibition tournament – where the Spaniard was beaten by Jannik Sinner in the final.
“It’s not really demanding mentally (compared to) when we’re having such long events like two weeks or two and a half weeks,” the six-time Grand Slam champion said last week.
The Professional Tennis Players’ Association filed a lawsuit
On Oct 19, former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev ended an 882-day wait for his 21st ATP Tour title when he beat Corentin Moutet 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the Almaty Open final.
Russian Medvedev, 29, last won a title at the Italian Open in May 2023 and has lost six finals since.
Earlier on the same day, Elena Rybakina rallied from a set down to beat Russian fourth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 and win the Ningbo Open title, as her late surge to reach the WTA Finals gained momentum.
A 10th career title for the Kazakh means she has to reach only the semi-finals of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this week to seal the last qualifying spot for the season finale at the expense of Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva. REUTERS
