Jack Draper set for first match since joining forces with Andy Murray
By Eleanor Crooks, Press Association Tennis Correspondent
Jack Draper will make his return from injury at the Lexus Eastbourne Open next week.
The former world number four has not played a match since retiring during the third set of a clash against Tomas Etcheverry in Barcelona in mid-April with a knee problem.
That forced him out of the French Open and his comeback has been delayed further by a shoulder issue, prompting fears he could miss Wimbledon.
But Draper is now sufficiently recovered to take his place in the draw for the warm-up tournament, which will mark the first time he has new coach Andy Murray in his corner.
Draper, whose ranking has slipped to 113, announced earlier this year that the two-time former Wimbledon champion would be working with him during the grass-court season.
Draper and Murray will both hope the former’s injury woes are now behind him, with the 24-year-old having played just 10 matches since last year’s Wimbledon.
A bone bruise in his racket arm kept him out for the better part of eight months and he managed just five events on his return earlier this year before being forced off court again.
Speaking to reporters this week, Murray said of Draper: “In the sessions I’ve done with him, I’ve been more impressed probably than what I expected. And I thought he was bloody good before I started helping him.
“Obviously he’s had lots of issues the last year with various injuries. I feel like he’s starting to come out the other side of that now. The next step is getting on the match court and getting a consistent run of tournaments and weeks under him and building trust again in his body.”
Emma Raducanu has opted not to take a wild card into Eastbourne after pulling out of the tournament in Nottingham this week, instead choosing to practise at Wimbledon following her run to the final at Queen’s.
