Sawt Falasteen - Draper to make long-awaited return in Davis Cup qualifier

The 24-year-old has not played since withdrawing from the US Open last August following his first-round match with an arm injury.

Draper enjoyed the best year of his career in 2025 before the injury, climbing to fourth in the world rankings and winning the Indian Wells title.

He returns on Thursday against a Norway side which may include three-time Grand Slam runner-up Casper Ruud.

"I think last year definitely started off amazingly well," said Draper.

"The second half was extremely challenging, but I took a lot of belief and confidence from the first half of the year and what I achieved.

"I've kept that in mind and I want to be competing right at the top of the game.

"It's going to be a bit of a challenge and a journey to get back to where I was, just because I've been out for such a long time.

"At the same time I'm constantly getting better and I'm constantly improving still. I hope I get to show that sooner more than later."

Draper has only won one of his four Davis Cup matches and has not played in the team event since losing a singles rubber to Felix Auger-Aliassime in the 2024 Finals group stage.

Jacob Fearnley, who enjoyed a breakthrough season last year, and the in-form Cameron Norrie are also part of a strong British side who will be favourites to beat Norway and set up a second-round qualifier against either Australia or Ecuador.

Ruud was named in Norway's squad but his partner gave birth to their first child last week and he is yet to confirm if he will still be available.

"They've obviously got a young player, (Nicolai Budkov) Kjaer, who was number one in the world juniors and playing great tennis on the tour," said Draper.

"He'll be really tough and we all know Casper Ruud has been a top-10 player for a long time.

"It's going to be a great challenge for us all, but I think we're ready to embrace it and we're ready to fight for every point."

- Alcaraz hints at playing Davis Cup this year -

Recent editions of the Davis Cup Finals, to be held this year in Bologna in November, have been hit by withdrawals from the majority of the world's best players.

A weakened Italy, without Jannik Sinner or Lorenzo Musetti, won last year's title against a Spain team missing Carlos Alcaraz in the final.

Spain have received a bye into September's second qualifying round as the 2025 runners-up, while reigning champions and hosts Italy have a place assured in the Finals.

The Davis Cup is one of the few big titles Alcaraz is yet to win after he became the youngest man to win the career Grand Slam at the Australian Open on Sunday.

“The Davis Cup, it is a goal as well. I really wanted to achieve that for my country, for Spain," Alcaraz said after beating Novak Djokovic in the final at Melbourne Park.

"I set up some other goals for the season, and I will try to be ready for, or to try to get those goals."

Elsewhere this week, Serbia and Chile go head-to-head on Friday and Saturday in Santiago in a bid to set up a tie with Spain.

Qualifying second seeds Germany, without world number three Alexander Zverev, host Peru.

Nine-time winners France take on Slovakia in a tie starting Saturday and Belgium, surprise semi-finalists last year, play Bulgaria in Plovdiv.

N.Shalabi--SF-PST