Andy Murray resumes coaching role with Jack Draper at Mubadala DC Open
The former Grand Slam champion has reunited with the injury-plagued British player, whose world ranking has plummeted to 147th following a series of tournament absences.
Andy Murray has resumed his coaching collaboration with Jack Draper at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington. The reunion follows the 24-year-old British player’s withdrawal from Wimbledon earlier this month due to bone bruising in his left arm.
The three-time Grand Slam champion initially joined Draper’s team in May after the player split with former coach Jamie Delgado. Murray originally stated the arrangement would last only a few weeks, as he needed to maintain his family routine and pick up his children from school.
Despite those initial temporal boundaries, the pair were observed training together this week at the William HG FitzGerald Tennis Center. Draper was seen hitting the ball effectively with his left arm while Murray watched the session from the back of the court.
This renewed partnership arrives at a critical juncture for Draper’s professional and economic trajectory in the sport. Having competed in just six ATP Tour tournaments this season because of his persistent arm issue, his world ranking has plummeted to No 147. This drop represents a significant setback for a player who had been building momentum prior to the injuries.
This steep decline carries direct consequences for his upcoming schedule and earning potential, as main-draw absences severely limit prize money and sponsorship visibility. Draper will likely be forced to navigate the qualifying rounds to reach the US Open in September, having already missed out on direct entry.
The ongoing physical setbacks have severely disrupted his Grand Slam participation over the past year. He was forced to withdraw in the second round of last year’s US Open with a left arm injury, and subsequently skipped both the Australian Open in January and the French Open in May.
Addressing the renewed dynamic, Draper emphasized the longstanding mutual respect between them. "He has always supported me," Draper said, noting they spent time together towards the back end of Murray's career. He added that Murray has always been one of his biggest inspirations, making this a good time to bring him into the team.
For British tennis, the stakes are substantial as Draper attempts to rebuild his competitive standing. A successful return in Washington is essential not only for his ranking recovery but also for stabilizing his professional profile ahead of the autumn hard court season.
