“Davis Cup Drama: Will Jack Draper Play for Great Britain Amid Injury Concerns?”

British No.1 and US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper may feature for Great Britain in the Davis Cup on Wednesday, despite training with a strapped thigh yesterday.

Draper, currently ranked world No. 20, reached the semifinals of the year’s final Grand Slam last Friday, ultimately losing to champion Jannik Sinner. Now back in the UK, he has joined the Great Britain team in training ahead of Wednesday’s Davis Cup opener in Manchester.

Captain Leon Smith, speaking last night, did not rule out Draper’s participation, saying, “Until we get on the court and start doing some stuff, it’s quite hard to tell how he feels. It’s just a question of figuring out where he is at with his energy, how much tennis he can play over the course of the week. But, if he’s good to go, he’s good to go. If he’s not, I’ve got every faith in those sitting beside me now.”

Smith expressed his enthusiasm for Draper’s commitment to the team, adding, “We are absolutely thrilled that he’s coming. You can tell straight away that he gets the Davis Cup. He plays with passion, pride, fight, and you mix that with the fact he’s a top-20 player with unbelievable quality, he’s going to be a very important member of the team not just this week but for many, many years to come. He absolutely loves it, and his commitment by coming here just shows that.”

While Draper’s involvement remains uncertain, Smith acknowledged the absence of Andy Murray, who has been a cornerstone of the team for the past two decades. “Obviously, we miss Andy being around, just in general,” Smith said. “He was a bedrock of the team for the last couple of decades, even putting his heart and soul into one of the rubbers here last year against Switzerland. You could still see how much it meant to him then. But he’s not forgotten, is he? He’s left a massive imprint and legacy on definitely me but also all the guys that are sitting here.”

Great Britain is set to face Finland on Wednesday, Argentina on Friday, and Canada on Sunday in the group stage. Draper’s potential inclusion could be a significant boost for the team.