Jack Draper sets sights on Davis Cup with Great Britain after after ‘extremely challenging’ injury-hit season – ‘A lot of tough times’
Published 04/02/2026 at 18:06 GMT
Great Britain are set to face Norway in the first qualifying round for the 2026 Davis Cup, and they have been given a huge boost by the return of Jack Draper. Britain's No. 1 has played just one singles match since Wimbledon, and he revealed the difficulty of the past few months as he attempted to recover from an arm injury. Draper will face Norway's Viktor Durasovic in Oslo.
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Jack Draper said he experienced "lots of dark moments" on his road to recovery from injury.
The 24-year-old struggled with an upper left arm injury in the second half of 2025, playing just one singles match after his second-round exit at Wimbledon.
But he is set to return to action in Great Britain's Davis Cup first round qualifier against Norway.
"[It's] been a long time since I've been able to compete. I've stayed in a good place, although it's been tricky [with] a lot of dark moments and a lot of tough times, but that's the sport I signed up for," Draper told the LTA website.
"I'm happy to be back playing again. I miss the buzz of competing. I've missed the thrill of playing in front of people, against great players, and that winning feeling you can't replicate in training. It's going to feel great to get back out there again."
Draper is now world No. 13 in the ATP rankings, having been as high as No. 4 in June last year after reaching the fourth rounds of the Australian and French Opens and winning his maiden Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells.
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"Last year started off amazingly well. The second half was extremely challenging," Draper said.
"I took a lot of belief and confidence from the first half of the year and what I achieved. I kept in mind that I want to be competing right at the top of the game.
"It's going to be a bit of a challenge and a journey to get back to where I was because I've been out for such a long time but at the same time, I'm constantly getting better and improving, and I hope I get to show that sooner rather than later."
Draper will hope for an injury-free 2026 as he prepares for the Davis Cup qualifier in Oslo on Thursday and Friday.
He is joined in Great Britain's squad by Cameron Norrie, Jacob Fearnley and the doubles pair of Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash.
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Norway will be without world No. 12 Casper Ruud in a blow to their chances, with world No. 133 Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, just 19, now their highest-ranked singles player.
He will play Norrie, while Draper is set to face world No. 313 Viktor Durasovic.
But the British No. 1 has warned against any complacency, saying: "They've got a young player in Kjaer, who was number one in the world juniors and playing great tennis on the tour.
"He'll be tough to beat – a young guy who's got a lot to prove.
"It's going to be a great challenge for us all but I think we're ready to embrace it and fight for every point."
The winner of the tie between Great Britain and Norway will play either Australia or Ecuador in the second round of qualification, with a place in November's Davis Cup Finals on the line.
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