In early December, world quantity 10 Draper additionally pulled out of the Final Tennis Showdown (UTS) grand closing in London, citing his frustration at not being “fairly prepared”.

Draper first felt discomfort in his higher left serving arm throughout the clay-court season within the spring, and whereas he tried to return on the US Open in late August – taking part in alongside Jessica Pegula within the combined doubles and successful his first-round match within the singles – he withdrew from the match due to the discomfort.

He continued: “Clearly, with Australia being a Grand Slam, it is one of many largest tournaments in our sport.

“Nonetheless, I’ve had this damage for a very long time. I am on the very, very finish phases of the [recovery] course of and to step again on court docket into best-of-five-set tennis so quickly simply would not look like a good move proper now for me and my tennis.

“I’ve clearly been by means of a good quantity of setbacks however by far, this one has been probably the most tough, probably the most difficult, probably the most complicated one which I’ve had.”

Draper carried out strongly within the first a part of the yr, reaching a career-high world rating of 4 in June and likewise securing a maiden Masters 1000 title with victory over Denmark’s Holger Rune within the Indian Wells closing in March.