British number one Jack Draper will not compete at the 2026 Australian Open.
The British star, ranked ninth in the world, will have been hoping to make a return to competitive play in Australia – he has not played a competitive match since the US Open.
However, in a post on X [Twitter], Draper revealed that his left arm injury has not fully recovered, adding that it would not be ‘the smart decision’ to return to the court in Australia.
Draper appears to have taken his own advice on board, and one can only applaud his courage in making such a brave decision.
With Draper now absent from the event in Melbourne, the rest of the British contingent will need to step up to the plate.
Cameron Norrie
Cameron Norrie enjoyed yet another impressive season on the ATP Tour.
The British number two has ended the year ranked 27 in the world after winning 39 of his 68 matches on the Tour this year.
Norrie’s best performance of the year occurred at Wimbledon, when he reached the quarter-finals before losing to Carlos Alcaraz.
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Norrie avenged this loss four months later in Paris, stunning Alcaraz in the second round.
At the 2025 Australian Open, Norrie was defeated in the first round by 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, 6-7, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.
Jacob Fearnley
Jacob Fearnley is one of the brightest young male talents on the ATP Tour.
Fearnley, the world number 71, registered career-best runs at three of the four Grand Slam events in 2025, including at the French Open.
At Roland Garros, the Brit defeated 21st seed Ugo Humbert and three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, who is set to retire from his playing career in 2026.
Fearnley’s biggest win of the year came against world number 20 Tomas Mahac at the Madrid Open. The 23-year-old defeated the Czech star 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.
At the 2025 Australian Open, Fearnley defeated former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios in straight sets, before beating Frenchman Arthur Cazaux.
In the third round, he lost to eventual finalist Alexander Zverev.
Billy Harris
Billy Harris, 30, could be a player to watch at the 2026 Australian Open.
Although the British star is unlikely to make a deep run at the tournament, he is certainly capable of causing an upset.
This was demonstrated at the 2025 Eastbourne Open when Harris stunned current world number 27 Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4.
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One year earlier at the same event, Harris beat Davis Cup champion Flavio Cobolli.
Harris will need to come through Australian Open qualifying if he is to face any of the ATP’s very best in Melbourne.
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