Overview
- Former world No. 21 Steve Johnson voiced concern, calling the Rotterdam pullout "not a good sign" on the Nothing Major Show.
- Returning from a long layoff, Draper beat Norway’s Viktor Durasovic 6-2, 6-2 in Oslo for his first win in nearly six months.
- Draper and Great Britain captain Leon Smith said the plan limited him to one Davis Cup match and avoided back-to-back play, with no new injury reported.
- The withdrawal follows a left-arm stress injury that curtailed most of his 2025 season and left him with minimal match play entering 2026.
- Dubai (Feb 23–28) is his next planned start, offering a ranking opportunity because he is not defending points there.