Andy Murray Discusses Jack Draper's Return to Tennis and Australian Open Plans

British tennis icon Andy Murray joined Draper’s team this year and helped him achieve his best result, reaching the semi-finals at the Eastbourne tournament. Recently, Murray provided an update on Draper’s plans for returning to the tennis circuit and assessed his potential participation in the 2027 Australian Open.

Murray stated that Draper is aiming to return at the beginning of the new year but emphasized that competing in the Australian Open is not the primary goal. "The plan is for him to start at the beginning of the year. I don’t think there is any reason why that shouldn’t be the case," Murray said on 'The Sports Agents' podcast. He noted that since Draper missed all four Grand Slam events in 2026, he would need a wild card to enter the Australian Open. However, Murray stressed that focusing on health and returning to match play should take precedence over aiming for just one tournament.

Murray, who has faced similar injury challenges, recognized the difficulties Draper has encountered during his recovery. "I think long rehab periods are really difficult for athletes, particularly when you don’t feel like you are making lots of progress," he explained. He added that the nature of injuries means recovery often is not a straightforward process.

Currently, Draper is on a break and not heavily training, but Murray expects his return to the court within the next month as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Earlier in 2023, Draper added Murray to his coaching team, marking Murray's second coaching role after a brief stint with Novak Djokovic in 2025. Murray stated that while he is not the primary coach, he is committed to helping Draper. "If he feels I can help him in that role, I will be there to support him," Murray said, emphasizing his dedication to Draper’s development as a player. The 2027 Australian Open is scheduled to begin on January 11.