Exclusive interview
Jay Clarke on his title-winning return from injury & ambitions to break the top 100
After a difficult year plagued with injury, British tennis star Jay Clarke has made a strong return to life on tour as he aims to work his way back to the top of the game.
Having finished the 2023 season on a high – winning his nineth career singles title in Antalya – Clarke has picked up were he left off this year and has already claimed his second ATP Challenger doubles trophy with Marcus Willis.
Clarke and Willis joined forces for the first time since 2018 to win the Oeiras Challenger – closing out the week with a 6-4, 6-7(9), 10-3 victory over top seeds Theo Arribage and Michael Geerts.
“It means a lot to me that I was able to compete at such a high level with Marcus so soon after the surgery on the tour, and always winning at any level is great,” said Clarke.
“It was a goal we had at the end of last year when we planned to play together in Portugal.
“Marcus and I complement each other very well. He’s not like anyone I’ve played with before; there’s always a very relaxed atmosphere, even in big moments, and we’re able to get the best out of one another, especially when it counts, and that’s why we do so well.”
The title was made all the more special, being Clarke’s first Challenger victory since making a comeback from wrist surgery last year.
Clarke acknowledged that while surgery was needed to help improve his wrist issues, there was a chance that it might have ended his career. However, fast-forward a few months and while he’s had to take a step back down a level, the time off has given him a new-found perspective and reignited his passion for the sport.
“The injury is something that I have been struggling with since 2017,” he said. “I did my best to avoid surgery, as sometimes it’s the end of a player's career if it doesn’t go perfectly.
“I was fortunate enough to have a great group of people around me who were all very helpful and honest with me throughout the different stages. Through the years, we spoke about my wrist.
“It’s not easy dropping back into the ITF events. I’m not someone with a big ego or someone who struggles with motivation; however, knocking on the door consistently of the top 150 in the world for the last five/six years and then being forced to have surgery and be sidelined does change your perspective on tennis, and it becomes less about points and rankings and more about just loving to play the game again.”
My personal goal is to be in the top 100 in both singles and doubles, which I fully believe I can do with a couple of injury-free seasons as I have a great game for both.
In November of last year, the months of hard work and rehab were made all worth while as Clarke clinched what he described as one of the ‘most important titles of his career’ at the M25 Antalya.
“The M25 in Antalya was something that I was dreaming a lot about from the moment I left the operating room to when I got out of the cast and I could start to use my hand without pain,” Clarke admitted. “After the surgery I wasn’t able to even use a knife and fork or put my socks on unassisted.
“I really enjoyed the time away from tennis, getting married, spending more time with my family than ever, and just genuinely growing as a person.
“However, the rehab was long and scary, and there were so many questions like if I could ever come back to a high level, how the wrist would hold up, and when I could restart.
“A big thing was forgetting what had happened in the past and just throwing away all expectations. In only my fifth event back, I won singles and doubles, beating some very good players who are competing in grand slam qualifying or ATP events.”
Family has always been a huge part of Clarke’s life and his tennis career. Siblings Yasmin and Curtis helped introduce him to the sport at a young age and have been a big part of his coaching set up at points throughout his career.
A newly married man as well, Clarke gives a huge amount of credit for his career and return from injury to the support of those closest to him.
“My family means the world to me,” the 25-year-old said. “I have always been coached by a sibling or parent. Tennis is expensive, so the fact that I was able to have great practice with no limit on the hours since I started more than 20 years ago from people who want the best for me is something that made me into the player I am today.
“I’m grateful that my sister is still heavily involved; she has been and still is the most influential person for my tennis.”
Clarke’s form has continued in recent weeks since he’s been competing at Lexus GB-Pro Series events in Loughborough and Sunderland – making the doubles final of the M25 Loughborough with Millen Hurrion.
As the results mount up and his level continues to improve, Clarke hopes that this season he can stay healthy and push back up the rankings to where he was before the injury.
“There was a lot of work to get me back to where I am today since I stopped,” Clarke explained. “For me, the form isn’t really a surprise; it’s just the start of what I believe will continue if I'm able to stay fit.
“My personal goal is to be in the top 100 in both singles and doubles, which I fully believe I can do with a couple of injury-free seasons as I have a great game for both. I love doubles just as much as the singles.
“This season I want to get back into slam qualifying, which will be a good challenge, and to be able to stay on court for a full 12 months.”