The reason Jack Draper is currently playing tennis in Brazil with Joao Fonseca

Jack Draper’s absence from the ATP Tour of late has been an expected one, given all the fitness troubles he’s suffered in recent years.

And, given the specific nature of his current injury, the only real antidote is rest.

For a professional athlete, that is nearly impossible to do, and tennis is arguably even worse.

With no security and a ranking system that benefits the ever-present, Jack Draper has suffered both financially and in terms of his stature: the Brit currently sits outside the world’s top 150.

However, it seems that whatever recovery plan he and his team agreed on has reached its next step, with reports now emerging that he is back on court.

Jack Draper spotted training in Rio, Brazil

It’s not just reports that have confirmed Draper’s return to on-court action, with photos and videos also surfacing.

The 24-year-old has been pictured training in Rio, Brazil, at the same country club where Joao Fonseca started playing tennis.

In fact, the Brazilian youngster is apparently there now as well, with one update claiming his plan is to ‘get in shape physically and tennis-wise for next year.’

They added: “He also wants to build up his tolerance to high temperatures.”

Fonseca has also ended his season early, as part of a growing list of players struck down by injury. He was seen at the same club on Tuesday, although pictures of him and Draper together remain unreleased.

Jack Draper’s curious decision to play on clay courts

What is particularly interesting about this decision is not the timing of his return, but where he has chosen to return.

After all, opting to return to practice on clay courts seems odd with the Australian Open likely his ultimate target after taking so long off.

Even if he were to miss that first Grand Slam of the year, the clay-court season does not start until April, assuming he does play any events during the Golden Swing in Brazil and Argentina, across February.

Naturally, the warm weather seems to be his focus, but that could have been achieved on any surface. The clay must have been a conscious choice, and a curious one at that.