Jack Draper is poised to make his highly anticipated return from injury at Eastbourne next week, with former world number one Andy Murray taking on the role of his new coach. Having not played competitively since early April, the 24-year-old aims to regain match fitness ahead of Wimbledon, which starts on 29 June.

After withdrawing from Queen's last week, Draper feels ready to showcase his ability at Eastbourne, marking his first tournament under Murray's guidance. Murray, who joined Draper’s team last month, expressed his commitment to a long-term partnership, emphasizing the need for Draper to regain confidence in his body and compete again.

Murray stated, "I hope so. I think the number one priority for Jack and the team just now is getting him back on the match court, competing and gaining trust in his body again."

In contrast, Emma Raducanu has chosen not to compete in Eastbourne, opting instead to focus on practice for Wimbledon after reaching the Queen's final last week. Meanwhile, local talents Arthur Fery, Jacob Fearnley, Jack Pinnington Jones, Francesca Jones, Alicia Dudeney, and Hannah Klugman received wildcards for the event.

Draper, once seen as a potential rival to top players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, has faced setbacks due to injuries, including a lengthy absence from the tour. Despite playing only 11 matches in the past year and falling out of the top 100, Draper has been training diligently with Murray, who praised his skills on the practice court.

Murray noted, "I've been incredibly impressed with his tennis on the practice court. He's a super quick learner and a brilliant player as well. I have no doubt that when he gets back on the match court he will perform well and win matches at the highest level. But right now the focus is on trying to get him back competing consistently again."