Juan Martin Del Potro Draws Parallels with Jack Draper’s Injury Struggles: “The Body Could Be the Worst Thing”

Jack Draper has won just four matches this season in four tournaments.

Juan Martin Del Potro Draws Parallels with Jack Draper’s Injury Struggles: “The Body Could Be the Worst Thing”

Juan Martin Del Potro and Jack Draper (via X/The Tennis Letter)

Juan Martin Del Potro has drawn parallels between his own experience with injuries and the problem Jack Draper is currently facing. Draper, who returned from a six-month injury at the Dubai Tennis Championships in February, has struggled to maintain a high level of form on court and has withdrawn from a couple of tournaments.

Just when it looked as though Draper was getting to his best following his quarter-finals run at the Indian Wells Open, he withdrew from the Monte Carlo Masters and had a disappointing return in Barcelona, retiring in the middle of his first round tie against Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

The retirement has raised renewed concerns about his fitness and injury problems, and also his critical ranking period. Last year, Draper excelled at the Madrid Open, reaching the final of the tournament before losing to Casper Ruud. He’s expected to play at the event, but if he fails to reach the latter stages of the tournament, he might drop further in the ATP rankings.

Currently, the British star is ranked World No.28, 21 places below where he was ranked at this time last year. In fact, he has lost the British No.1 position to Cameron Norrie, who has been in incredible form of late. Additionally, Draper’s 2026 season has been fragmented; he holds just four wins in four tournaments.

Del Potro, who struggled with injuries for most of his career, understands what it is like to have a great talent but a struggling body. The former Grand Slam winner was supposed to challenge the Big 3, but he couldn’t do that at a consistent level. He revealed during an interview with Sky Sports that Draper is a talented tennis player, but his body has not allowed him to give his fullest potential on the court:

Well, as a lefty player, he has an advantage over the rest of the players. Draper is a talented player as well, but sometimes the body could be the worst thing in your career, as has happened with me, but he’s trying to get confidence in his body. He has the tennis to play well, but sometimes you need your body to respond to the highest intensity of the matches and tournaments every week, but I think British tennis is in good hands.

Draper’s biggest win this season came at Indian Wells, where he defeated former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in three sets. For a player who had just returned less than a month on tour, to beat Djokovic was a big boost of confidence. There were hopes that he would continue with the momentum, but fitness issues have let him down.

Juan Del Potro reflects on his struggles with injuries during his professional career

Juan Martin Del Potro reached a career-high ranking of World No.3 and won the 2009 US Open after defeating Roger Federer in the final. He secured an Olympic silver medal in Rio 2016, just four years after securing bronze in London. His last big title was the 2018 Indian Wells, after which his form was interrupted by wrist and knee injuries.

Juan Martin del Potro
Juan Martin del Potro (via USOpen)

The Argentine legend underwent several surgeries, resulting in an extended absence from the tour. Despite his talent and competitive desire, he couldn’t convert them into sustained availability across full seasons. Speaking in the aforementioned interview, he admitted that injuries were the worst part of his career:

Well, for me, I think injuries were the worst part of my career. I had to deal with my injuries during many, many years but I still preferred to play against ‘The Big Three’ every day. Injuries are part of our sport. If you are an athlete, you have to know that the injuries will come anytime and that’s why you have to create a perfect team, not only a tennis coach, you need a physical trainer, a physio, a mental coach as well…

Del Potro was last seen on the court at his farewell exhibition match in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The former World No. 3 played Novak Djokovic and won in straight sets. He was spotted among fans in the stands during the 2026 Argentina Open, which Francisco Cerundolo won.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic Unsure About Madrid Open Participation Due to Physical Problems