"It's not fair on him" - Why Jack Draper decided against training with Carlos Alcaraz during preseason

The British No.1 Jack Draper was scheduled for a week-long training session with four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, but has now canceled it because of a "niggle" in his hip. He enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2024 and was looking to sharpen his skills before starting off the new season at the United Cup.

Speaking in an interview during his appearance at the Memory Walk for the Alzheimer's Society, Draper revealed he had suffered a minor issue in his hip and wasn't in the condition to train at the level Alcaraz demanded.

"I have a niggle in my hip area and in terms of going to Spain and training at that level of intensity with Carlos, I had to make that call because it's not fair on him if I go and I'm not 100 percent," he said (as quoted by Daily Mail).

Draper further added that he was excited to travel to Spain next week and get to learn from the World No. 3 to bolster his preparations for the next season.

"It was something that we were really excited about, and something me and (his coach) James (Trotman) had been talking about for a while. To try to go out and hit with the best players in the world and get that exposure to the highest level possible on a regular basis to get prepared for the New Year," Jack Draper added (via BBC).

While the World No. 15 clarified that the injury wasn't serious, he isn't sure of being ready in time for the season-opener with Great Britain at the United Cup scheduled for December 27. Draper remained injury-free for most of 2024 and managed to win his first two ATP titles in Stuttgart and Vienna before a semifinal finish at the US Open.

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"He was getting texts from Carlos Alcaraz" - Laura Robson reveals how Spaniard cared for Jack Draper after retiring with injury at 2023 Indian Wells

Cinch Championships - Jack Draper and Carlos Alcaraz in action (Source: Getty)

After missing half of 2023 due to a hip injury, Jack Draper was vying for a victorious comeback at the Indian Wells Open and had reached the fourth round before being forced to withdraw due to a stomach muscle injury. He was up against Carlos Alcaraz and trailed by a set and 2-0 before retiring from the match.

"I was doing further damage, so there was no point in making it worse," Jack Draper told BBC Sport at the time.

Following his withdrawal, Draper had received text messages from Alcaraz asking him about his health, as revealed by British former player Laura Robson in 2023.

"I was actually speaking to Jack Draper back in Miami after he'd had to pull out of the tournament there having injured himself in Indian Wells. He was getting texts from Carlos saying, 'Let me know if you need anything. Reach out if you want to have a chat about how you're feeling, about having so many injuries on and off," she said (via Express US).

The two have faced each other three times so far, once each in 2022, 2023, and 2024 with Alcaraz leading the head-to-head 2-1.