Jack Draper has pulled out of playing for Great Britain at the United Cup to protect his hip injury before the Australian Open.

The British No.1 revealed earlier this month that he had cancelled a planned training week with Carlos Alcaraz because of a “little bit of a niggle” in his hip.

Now the US Open semi-finalist has decided not to play the 10-day team event in Perth and Sydney after Christmas to ensure he is fit for the first Grand Slam of the year in Melbourne.

And Draper will also miss playing the Davis Cup tie in Japan next month to work on rehabbing the injury.

The world No.15 posted on social media: “As I work to get on top of my hip injury and get match fit, I have unfortunately been advised not to play in the United Cup.

“While we are very positive about competing in the Australian Open this year, I know I won’t be able to jump straight into a packed schedule as I manage and strengthen my hip. Gutted as I was really looking forward to playing in the United Cup for the first time.

“Together with Leon, we have also made the difficult decision for me to sit out of the upcoming Davis Cup match in Japan in order to give me the opportunity post-Australian Open to complete the rehab and the strengthening of my hip.”

Fellow British No.1 Katie Boulter is in the United Cup team along with Lily Miyazaki, Olivia Nicholls, Billy Harris and Charles Broom. They are scheduled to face Argentina on December 30 Alex de Minaur’s Australia on New Year’s Day in Sydney.

Draper, who turns 23 on Sunday, has struggled with injuries throughout his career and said he “hates being the guy who’s injured a lot” after retiring from the 2023 French Open with a shoulder issue.

This current issue is different to the hip problem he suffered at the start of last year.

The British No.1 has reached his highest ranking of world No.15 after winning his first two ATP Tour titles in Stuttgart and Vienna this year.

The Australian Open starts in Melbourne on 12 January.

Earlier this month, Draper spoke of his disappointment about cancelling his planned training camp with French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz.

“I’ve been working incredibly hard the last couple of weeks to get myself to hopefully improve for next year,” he said.

“I did have a little bit of a niggle in my hip area and in terms of going away to Spain and training at that level of intensity with Carlos I had to make that call because it’s not fair on him if I go and I am not 100 per cent.

“It was something that we were really excited about, and something me and (his coach) James (Trotman) had been talking about for a while.

“To try to go out and hit with the best players in the world and get that exposure to the highest level possible on a regular basis to get prepared for the New Year.”