Draper decides not to play again this season

Former world number four Jack Draper will not play again this season, but says he is aiming to return to the tour at the start of next year.

The 24-year-old has been suffering with bone bruising in his serving arm and has only played nine events since last year's Wimbledon.

Draper missed the US Open, after losing in the first round in Montreal and Cincinnati last month - and was in tears during his defeat to France's Terence Atmane in Canada.

"I am taking this time to reset and heal so when I return I am 100% ready to go," Draper posted on Instagram., external

"Tennis is my purpose and passion and so when I step back on court I want to make sure that there's nothing holding me back from where I want to go."

Draper will not qualify for a protected ranking if he does return in January, as only those who are out for over six months are able to retain the ranking they had when they left the tour.

He is currently ranked 155, which means he would require wildcards or have to come through qualifying to play in Grand Slams and ATP Tour events.

But none of that will worry him if he is able to play freely and without so much pain.

Draper peaked at four in the world last June after winning a first Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells and finishing runner-up at another in Madrid.

"Last summer, all the dedication and work I had put into this sport was coming together," Draper added.

"It was all going my way and the path seemed so clear. However a complicated injury made things incredibly challenging, and since that moment I've been desperately trying to get back and feel as I once did on the court.

"Managing so much change, adversity and pain has helped me to grow massively in many areas of my life but has also made me feel a level of fatigue."

Draper has taken a holiday with friends in recent weeks and has been trying to aid his recovery by taking a mental break from the sport.

He is expected to make a gradual return to training over the next few weeks, as his team try to work out the principal causes of the injury.

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