Jack Draper has appealed to his followers to give him time as he works his way back after the former world No. 4 was forced to retire from the DC Open because of an arm problem. The young Brit has missed all three Grand Slam events in 2026, yet he has secured a wild‑card entry into the National Bank Open in Montreal, a stepping‑stone before the US Open qualifying rounds, after his ranking slipped to No. 147 in the world.
Coached by former champion Sir Andy Murray, Draper is slated to compete in two more tournaments before heading to New York. He told Sky Sports News that his rehabilitation is nearing its final stages, noting that the past year has been riddled with setbacks that limited him to just five tour appearances over an eight‑month span. "Having Sir Andy on my team has been a massive advantage," Draper said. "He’s endured so many challenges in his own career, and his experience is invaluable to me." He emphasized that his injury is not a simple case of "rest and recover".
"The problem is very complex and the whole team is doing everything possible to keep the recovery moving forward," he explained. "It’s not as straightforward as just lying down and waiting for the body to heal." Outside of tennis, Draper reported that his life is going well, and on‑court he feels he is managing his situation effectively.
"I’m at a point where I’m confident I’ll get through this period," he added. The British player acknowledged that the road back will require patience and careful load management. "It’s a real patience game," he said.
"I need to balance the right amount of training intensity with sufficient rest, allowing everything I’m doing off the court and on the court to align so I can finally break through again." Despite the steep drop of 143 places in the rankings over the last year, Draper remains optimistic about a full‑strength comeback. "I’m in the best place I’ve been in the past twelve months," he asserted. "I’m getting closer to that breakthrough moment, and I believe that moment is now." He admitted that withdrawing from tournaments at the last minute has been frustrating, but he views those decisions as necessary for the longevity of his career. "I have a long career ahead of me, and sometimes I have to pull out to assess where I stand," he explained.
"It’s been a perfect storm of injuries, schedule disruptions, and recovery challenges." Looking ahead, Draper is determined to emerge from this turbulent period stronger than ever. "When I finally get out of this storm, I’ll push forward with everything I have, aiming to reach my goals and exceed them," he said. Fans can watch Draper’s anticipated return at the National Bank Open in Montreal, which begins on August 3, and later follow his US Open qualifying campaign starting August 30. Both events will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and streamed via the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app, offering subscribers access to more than half again as much live sport this year at no extra charge.