Jack Draper is set to return to competitive play at the Barcelona Open.
Draper, the British number two, last competed at the Miami Open, where he lost 6-7, 6-7 to Reilly Opelka in his opening match.
The British star then chose to forego the Monte Carlo Masters and instead return to action in Spain.
Who will win the Barcelona Open? 🤔
Draper, who will be competing in his first clay-court event of the year, will face Tomas Martin Etcheverry in his first-round match.
Tennis fans will learn whether Jack Draper is ready to compete with the best on clay
Jack Draper has been given the perfect first test of his clay-court campaign.
The British star faces Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who has excelled on clay-court surfaces this season.
The Argentine has emerged as one of the best clay-court players on the Tour after winning the Rio Open and challenging Carlos Alcaraz at the Monte Carlo Masters.
Etcheverry represents a litmus test for Draper: a competitor who will challenge the British star to his limits on the surface.
If Draper were to defeat Etcheverry and go on to reach the quarter-finals, he would likely play Alex de Minaur.
Jack Draper’s projected Barcelona Open path
- Tomas Etcheverry
- Adrian Mannarino / Nuno Borges
- Alex de Minaur
- Carlos Alcaraz
- Lorenzo Musetti
De Minaur, the third seed in Barcelona, is also an excellent clay-court player, as demonstrated by him reaching the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals.
One hopes that Draper advances to the semi-finals, where he would likely play Carlos Alcaraz.
Alcaraz, perhaps the best clay-court player on the ATP Tour, would represent the ultimate test of Jack Draper’s clay-court capabilities.
Jack Draper plans to play a full clay-court schedule
Ahead of the Barcelona Open, Draper discussed his decision to withdraw from Monte Carlo, while revealing his plan for the remainder of the clay-court swing.
Draper, who described the decision to withdraw from Monte Carlo as ‘hard,’ told ATP Media: “That’s very much the plan. The plan is to play Madrid, Rome, French, and go full schedule as much as I can.
“I think I’ve got enough training, enough miles in the tank to do that now.
Where will Jack Draper be ranked by the end of 2026?
“I don’t know how my results are going to be, but I’m enjoying being back out on the tour, and I’m looking forward to getting my momentum back.”
Draper has the opportunity to significantly increase his ranking at the 2026 Barcelona Open. After all, he has no ranking points to defend in Barcelona as he did not compete in the 2025 event.
Should Draper record a strong run in Barcelona, he could reclaim the British number one spot from Cameron Norrie.
