Jack Draper named in Great Britain Davis Cup team as British No. 1 set for February return from injury
Published 05/01/2026 at 19:14 GMT
Jack Draper has been named in the Great Britain team to take part in the Davis Cup tie at the beginning of February. The world No. 10 is currently sidelined with injury, and had already announced that he would not be fit enough to play in the opening Grand Slam of the season in Australia. Instead, he intends to return in time for the Davis Cup tie against Norway.
Jack Draper of United Kingdom
Image credit: Getty Images
Leon Smith has named Jack Draper in his team to take on Norway in the Davis Cup qualifying round in February, with the 24-year-old set to return to tennis after a lengthy injury lay off.
The British star last played competitively in the US Open last year, withdrawing before his second round match with an arm injury.
That injury - later revealed to be bone bruising - ruled him out of the rest of the season, with Draper announcing at Christmas that he would not be fit in time to take part in the opening Grand Slam of the season in Australia.
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The world No. 10 had a standout year in 2025 until injury intervened, winning his maiden Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells.
That was despite the opening part of his season being disrupted by a hip injury, which forced Draper to retire midway through a highly anticipated clash with Carlos Alcaraz in Melbourne.
Once he recovered from that, an injury to his left arm followed a string of strong results on the clay and, after losing in the second round of Wimbledon to Marin Cilic, Draper played just one more match.
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'My arm was shutting down' - Draper reveals extent of 'painful' bone bruising
Video credit: SNTV
"Unfortunately, me and my team have decided not to head out to Australia this year," Draper confirmed on social media last month.
"It’s a really, really tough decision."
But with Smith naming Draper in his Davis Cup squad, it seems the star believes he is close to a recovery and to regaining enough fitness to potentially take on the likes of Casper Ruud in the enticing qualifying tie.
Ruud is scheduled to lead Norway against Great Britain, the world No. 12 a three-time Grand Slam finalist and certainly no push over.
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Smith has named his strongest squad, with Draper joined by Cameron Norrie, Jacob Fearnley, Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash for the tie - although changes can be made closer to the date if needed.
The tie is set to be played in Oslo on February 5 and 6, with the winner of Great Britain and Norway moving on to play either Australia or Ecuador in the next round.
With Draper missing from Melbourne, the British charge on the men’s side will be led by Norrie and Fearnley, while Emma Raducanu, Sonay Kartal and Francesca Jones all have direct entry to the draw on the women's side.
The Australian Open begins on Sunday, January 18 and will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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