Overview
- Draper announced in a Boxing Day video that he will skip both the United Cup and the Australian Open.
- The left-arm bone bruise prompted the call, which he described as the most difficult and complex injury of his career, and he said he is in the final stage of rehab but not ready for best-of-five matches.
- He has played only one singles match since Wimbledon and has been sidelined for about five months after ending his US Open campaign early.
- The withdrawal came just days after he was filmed telling fans he expected to compete in Australia.
- Immediate effects include the loss of 200 ranking points and roughly A$420,000 from last year’s Melbourne results, with no firm return date as his Indian Wells title defense in March approaches.