Former British No. 1 Jack Draper will have to battle through the qualifying tournament at this year’s US Open after failing to secure direct entry into the main draw. The 24‑year‑old, who reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam in 2024, saw his ranking slip dramatically following a series of injury setbacks, leaving him outside the automatic qualification zone.
Draper is scheduled to make his comeback at the DC Open in Washington, which begins on July 27. He missed Wimbledon entirely because of a recurring bone bruise in his left forearm—a condition that first forced him to step away from the tour a year ago and has now resurfaced, limiting his ability to compete consistently. Since returning from that initial hiatus, Draper has only been able to play a handful of events, each hampered by the lingering pain in his arm.
The cumulative effect of these interruptions has been reflected in his world ranking, which has plummeted to No. 147.
That ranking is well below the cutoff for direct acceptance into the US Open’s 128‑player main draw, meaning Draper will most likely have to navigate the three‑round qualifying tournament in order to earn a place in the New York event, the final Grand Slam of the calendar year. In contrast, Britain’s new men’s No.
1, Arthur Fery, will be making his debut at Flushing Meadows after a sensational run to the Wimbledon semifinals as a wild‑card entrant. His performance in London catapulted him up the rankings to No.
36, comfortably inside the top‑32 seed range for the US Open. Alongside him, former champion Emma Raducanu, who lifted the trophy in 2021, is also slated to compete, though she sits just outside the seeded positions at No.
37. Joining Fery and Raducanu in the main draw are fellow British players Cam Norrie, Jan Choinski and Katie Boulter, all of whom will be looking to make an impact when the tournament kicks off on August 30. Their matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, offering British fans a chance to follow their compatriots throughout the fortnight. The US Open will also feature the defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka, who is aiming to become the first woman since Serena Williams (who won three consecutive titles from 2012‑2014) to capture three straight US Open crowns.
On the men’s side, Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner will lead the field. Sinner, the world’s top‑ranked Italian, arrives in New York fresh off his fifth major title, having defeated Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final. He will be seeking to reclaim the US Open crown that was taken from him by Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s final. Alcaraz, currently seeded third, has missed the previous two Grand Slam events due to a wrist injury but hopes to return to form during the North American hard‑court swing.
His participation adds another layer of intrigue to an already star‑studded lineup. For viewers in the United Kingdom, the tournament will be accessible via Sky Sports, both on traditional television and through the NOW streaming service or the Sky Sports app. Subscribers will benefit from an expanded sports package that promises over 50 percent more live coverage this year at no additional charge.
Jack Draper’s situation underscores the precarious nature of a professional tennis career, where injuries can swiftly alter a player’s trajectory. Despite his recent setbacks, Draper remains determined to rebuild his ranking and re‑establish himself among the sport’s elite. Qualifying for the US Open will provide him with a valuable opportunity to gain match practice on hard courts, earn crucial ranking points, and demonstrate that he can still compete at the highest level. The road ahead will be challenging.
Qualifying draws are notoriously competitive, featuring hungry up‑and‑coming talents and seasoned veterans alike, all fighting for a limited number of spots in the main event. Draper’s experience on the ATP Tour, however, gives him a tactical edge; his powerful baseline game and aggressive forehand have previously propelled him to deep runs in major tournaments. If he can navigate the qualifiers successfully, Draper will not only secure a place in the main draw but also send a strong message to the tennis world that his career is far from over.
Even if he falls short, the experience gained from high‑intensity matches will be invaluable as he continues his rehabilitation and plans his 2025 schedule. British tennis fans will be watching closely, hoping that their former No. 1 can overcome adversity and return to the spotlight at the next opportunity.