By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Picture credit score: Tony Chang/Chang Pictures
Sporting a newly-shaved head and renewed confidence in his left arm, Jack Draper strives to complete what he begins in his Indian Wells return.
Reigning champion Draper arrives on the 2026 BNP Paribas Open armed with two main goals: keep wholesome and recapture glory after a dynamic dream run final March.
The 24-year-old Briton captured the most important championship of his profession final March, knocking off two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz within the semifinals and defeating Holger Rune within the remaining to say his maiden Masters 1000 title.
A left arm harm sidelined Draper after his US Open first-round win by till his return in Nice Britain’s Davis Cup Qualifier final month.
Assembly the media on the BNP Paribas Open right now, Draper mentioned he wouldn’t be in Palm Springs except he was absolutely assured he can bodily go the space.
“I really feel like I wouldn’t be right here, wouldn’t be within the event if I didn’t really feel like I might go all the way in which once more,” Draper mentioned right now. “That was in all probability the first motive I didn’t exit to Australia, simply purely as a result of if I’m going to enter a event, I’m going to be within the occasion, I need to really feel like I will be bodily able to not simply participate however to go all the way in which, as a result of I imagine in my tennis a lot that once I get on the market, I do know that I can play some nice stuff.”
Today, the 14th-ranked Draper takes the court docket armed together with his Dunlop racquet and gratitude he’s capable of compete after an injury-induced six-month break from the game.
“At this level, in truth, I’m simply very grateful to be again on the court docket, to be again on the tour,” Draper mentioned. “I’m feeling like I’ve improved rather a lot as a participant during the last eight months, however I do acknowledge that I’ve been away from the sport, and it’s a little bit of a step up in stage to simply come straight again to it after that period of time out of the sport.
“So let’s see what occurs. I’m kind of not overthinking issues an excessive amount of. My primary precedence is taking care of my physique, ensuring that once I’m capable of hit the match court docket that I’m absolutely ready for what’s to come back, and I all the time imagine in my tennis, so let’s see how far I can go.”
Draper faces twin challenges at Indian Wells. He arrives with an absence of current match play, however gained’t have a lot time to shake off the rust residing within the second quarter of the draw alongside Grand Slam king and five-time champion Novak Djokovic and seventh-seeded Taylor Fritz, the 2022 champion. Draper opens in opposition to both Fabian Marozsan or Roberto Bautista Agut with a possible third-round match vs. Buenos Aires champion Francisco Cerundolo.
The left-hander says he’s not terrified of re-injuring his arm, the query stays can he play the kind of daring tennis he displayed en path to the 2025 title?
“I haven’t had the kind of harm the place I’ve not been capable of be on court docket in any respect. I’ve been capable of apply, been capable of nonetheless get the reps in over an extended time period,” Draper mentioned. “I simply haven’t been capable of get to the purpose the place I’m capable of play on the highest depth I need and go back-to-back as I’ve wished and as I need to do on the tour to make it once more to be a prime participant.
“I don’t have any worry round my arm. I do know that I’ve obtained nice folks round me. I’ve obtained good expertise of it now, and so I simply need to be sure that I’m doing all the fitting issues to have the ability to simply go week after week and keep on the tour.”
The previous world No. 4 mentioned he opted for the excitement reduce to craft a contemporary begin—and make a change after an prolonged absence from the Tour.
“What impressed the haircut? I feel, I don’t know, I’ve simply been out for an extended time period. Eight months is tough,” Draper mentioned. “Particularly in a person sport, you turn out to be fairly remoted. There’s lots of tough moments, and if you come out of that and also you begin to really feel higher inside your self, yeah, simply fancied a contemporary begin.
“Undecided if it’s my finest haircut or my finest vogue selection, however one thing completely different I feel is all the time good. I feel I’ll return to it once more, however perhaps I’ll let it develop for now.”
