Jack Draper is back on the Davis Cup radar, and Norway will get his first competitive look in months.
After six months out with an upper left arm problem, the British number one travels to Oslo to play in Great Britain’s Davis Cup qualifier against Norway, aiming to convert rehab progress into match rhythm and team points.
Draper’s Road Back
[It’s] been a long time since I’ve been able to compete. I’ve stayed in a good place, although it’s been tricky [with] a lot of dark moments and a lot of tough times, but that’s the sport I signed up for.
Jack Draper
The injury that curtailed Draper’s 2025 season first flared during the clay swing, knocking momentum from a player who had become a headline act on tour, and now the return is measured rather than rushed.
The 24-year-old had been enjoying a breakout spell before the setback, reaching the fourth round at both the Australian Open and French Open and capturing the Indian Wells title, climbing to a career-high ranking of four in June.
Despite attempting a comeback at the US Open where he partnered Jessica Pegula in mixed doubles, Draper eventually pulled out and has played only one singles match since his second round exit at Wimbledon, so match sharpness is an open question.
He further withdrew from the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in December and chose not to travel to Melbourne for the Australian Open, signaling a cautious, health-first approach from his team as he rebuilds on-court minutes and confidence.
For the Davis Cup tie in Oslo he will be part of a British group that includes Jacob Fearnley and Cameron Norrie, and faces an opponent list that could feature three-time Grand Slam runner-up and world No 12 Casper Ruud plus exciting youngster Nicolai Budkov Kjaer.
Off-Court Scenes And Recovery
On the lighter side, Draper was pictured relaxing in Norway at an outdoor sauna and taking a cold plunge with teammate Jacob Fearnley, a small but human glimpse of how players try to stay sane between treatments and training blocks.
Photographs also showed a new tattoo on the right side of his lower midriff, sparking social-media chatter; he still carries earlier ink such as a lightning bolt on the outside of his left arm and the words ‘someone said’ on his left bicep.
Reflecting on 2025, Draper told reporters that the season had two very different halves, and he said he drew belief from the first part while accepting the second half was a challenge, signaling a pragmatic approach to the comeback process.
Mental recovery has been as important as physical rehab; Draper has said he misses the buzz of competing and the unique thrill of winning, and that emotional hunger can shorten the road back if managed carefully by the support team.
What To Watch In Oslo
Key questions for Draper’s return are simple: can he string together competitive sets without arm flare-ups, and will the timing and serve hold up under pressure when points matter in a Davis Cup atmosphere?
The tie offers a useful stage to test match fitness without the longer grind of a tour swing, and Great Britain will need Draper at his aggressive best to tip a potentially tight clash against Norway into their column.
History and ranking context matter here; Draper rose quickly to the top five and won a big title in Indian Wells, but he has won only one of his four Davis Cup matches to date, so this is a chance to change that record under pressure.
Whatever happens in Oslo, the short-term goal is clear: play well enough to help the team while avoiding setbacks that could extend time on the sidelines, and then rebuild match volume toward a full season return.
There is optimism in the camp, a realistic plan in place and a player who has said plainly he wants to be competing at the top again, making this Davis Cup weekend feel like a necessary and telling first chapter of that attempt.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
