Jack Draper has canceled plans for a week of training with Carlos Alcaraz, citing a “little problem” with his hip.
The British number one was due to train in Spain next week with the Wimbledon and French Open champions, but is currently restricted to gym training.
Draper has been part of the England squad for the United Cup from December 27 but is not yet sure whether he will be available for the match.
The Australian Open opens in Melbourne on January 12.
“We’ve worked incredibly hard over the past few weeks to get even better for next year,” Draper said.
“I had a bit of a complaint with my hip area and I had to make that decision about going to Spain and training with Carlos at that level of intensity because if I went it wouldn’t be fair to him and it wouldn’t be fair to me.” 100%.
“It was something we were really excited about and something me and (his coach) James (Trotman) had been talking about for a while.
“It’s about playing with the best players in the world and trying to prepare for the new year by being exposed to the highest level possible on a regular basis.”
Draper said the injury was different from the hip issue that plagued him in early 2023, but it came at a frustrating time for the 22-year-old.
He has risen to No. 15 in the world after winning ATP titles in Stuttgart and Vienna and has become much more resistant to injuries this year.
The US Open semi-finalist was speaking at a memory walk in aid of the Alzheimer’s Association in west London. Draper is an ambassador for the charity and spoke movingly about the impact the disease had on her grandmother.
Just before the walk, he described his grandfather, his grandmother’s primary caregiver, as “an absolute hero who can keep doing what he’s doing.”
