Former world No. 1 Andy Murray has pointed to changes in racket and string technology as a key factor behind recent arm injuries affecting top players. His comments follow withdrawals by Jack Draper and a long absence for Carlos Alcaraz.
Murray spoke in an interview with Tennis 365 after Draper's withdrawal from Wimbledon due to a recurring arm injury. He noted an increase in upper limb injuries and attributed it to lighter rackets paired with stiffer, higher-tension strings.
Murray explained that these setups transfer more force to the arm compared with the heavier frames and more forgiving strings used a decade ago. He added that the faster pace of the modern game encourages players to choose lighter equipment.
Alcaraz has been sidelined for more than two and a half months with a wrist injury and has not announced a return date. Draper, who had Murray in his coaching corner, described his withdrawal from a first-round match against Taylor Fritz as the most painful moment of the past year.