The head of the British Davis Cup team has lent his support behind Jack Draper and his decision to not end his season early due to injury.
On Monday, the world No.7 announced that he will not be playing another tournament this year due to an elbow injury that has been troubling him in recent weeks. Draper has been coping with a bruised humerus, the bone that runs from the shoulder to the elbow, and has only played in one event since Wimbledon. At the US Open, he won his opening match against Federico Agustin Gomez before deciding to pull out of the tournament.
Draper’s decision means Great Britain enters their Davis Cup tie against Poland without their top-ranked singles player. Team captain Leon Smith describes his absence as a ‘shame’ but is confident the 23-year-old will quickly bounce back when he returns to competitive tennis.
“He was keen to come here and that was the plan, so it’s a shame that he’s not here,” Smith said during an interview with BBC Sport.
“But more importantly for him, I feel for him. The momentum that he had built in that first part of the year was exceptional and he’s had a few challenges before, but he will come after this.
“I think what they have done is the right call, to take this time out now and get this sorted, and work on other aspects. And I’m sure he will be back for the start of the season.”
Draper ends 2025 with a win-loss record of 30-9. In March, he won the biggest title of his career so far at the Indian Wells Masters. He was also runner-up at the Madrid Masters and Doha Open.
As for his teammates, Britain enters their tie with Poland as the huge favourites. Poland is also without their top player, Hubert Hurkacz, due to his ongoing recovery from knee surgery. Cameron Norrie and Jacob Fearnley are both currently ranked in the top 60, compared to their opponents, who have no players in the top 100. Furthermore, Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash currently occupy the top two places in the PIF ATP Doubles rankings.
However, Smith is not underestimating the challenge his team could potentially face.
“Straightforward? “It doesn’t often work that way,” he commented.
“If you look at tennis as a sport, I think more than football in a way, guys ranked 400 or 500, they are playing to a good level.
“We do go in as favourites, but you have to be very respectful of the opposition, which we are, and very professional, which we have been.”
The clash will be held at the Polsat Puls Arena in Gdynia, Poland. Britain must win to reach the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers.
Current order of play
MATCH 1 – Tomasz BERKIETA Vs Cameron NORRIE
MATCH 2 – Olaf PIECZKOWSKI Vs Jacob Fearnley
MATCH 3 – Karol DRZEWIECKI/Jan ZIELINSKI Vs Julian CASH/Lloyd GLASSPOOL
MATCH 4 Olaf PIECZKOWSKI Vs Cameron NORRIE
MATCH 5 Tomasz BERKIETA Vs Jacob FEARNLEY
Line-up is subject to change
