Jack Draper has asked his supporters to exercise patience as he gears up for his first match back after withdrawing from the DC Open because of an arm problem. The young Brit, who previously held a career‑high ranking of world No. 4, has been sidelined for much of the past year and is now set to make his return at the National Bank Open in Montreal. Despite missing all three Grand Slam events in 2026, Draper secured a wildcard entry for the Canadian Masters‑1000 tournament, which serves as a key stepping stone toward the US Open qualifying rounds.
His ATP ranking has slipped to No. 147, reflecting the limited tournament play he managed during an injury‑laden season in which he competed in only five events over an eight‑month span.
The match‑up will see Draper face French hopeful Terrance Atmane on Monday evening, with kickoff slated for approximately 7:10 p.m. BST.
The encounter will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis, giving fans a chance to see the British player’s first competitive action in months. Coached by former world No.
1 Sir Andy Murray, Draper has been working closely with his new mentor, who he says has been a "massive benefit" given Murray’s own experience navigating career setbacks. "Having Sir Andy on the team has helped a lot because he’s been through so many challenges himself," Draper told Sky Sports News. He emphasized that his injury is far from straightforward. "It’s a very complex issue, and everyone around me is doing everything possible to keep the recovery moving forward," he explained.
"It’s not just a case of ‘rest, heal, and you’ll be fine.’" Outside the court, Draper reported feeling positive about his overall wellbeing. "Off the court I’m doing amazingly well, and on the court I’m managing my game quite nicely," he said. "I’m at a point now where I’m confident I’ll get through this phase. It will take time, but I’m doing the right things and the people around me are fully supportive." Even with a drop of 143 places in the rankings over the past year, Draper remains upbeat about his future prospects.
"I’m in the best place I’ve been in the last twelve months," he asserted. "The process I’m on is really a patience game.
It’s about finding the right load, the right intensity, and giving everything I do—both on and off the court—time to click together so I can finally make that breakthrough." He added that his progress on the court is tangible. "I’m able to keep improving and stay on the court more consistently.
I feel I’m getting closer to that breakthrough moment, and I believe that moment is now," Draper said. "That’s why pulling out of tournaments at the last minute has been tough, but those decisions are made with the long‑term view of my career in mind. I need to test myself at events to gauge where I stand." Describing his recent challenges as a "perfect storm," Draper reflected on the combination of injury setbacks, ranking decline, and limited match play. "When I finally get out of this storm, I’ll push hard to reach the level I know I’m capable of and then some," he concluded.
Fans can follow Draper’s journey as he competes at the National Bank Open beginning August 3, and later at the US Open starting August 30. Both tournaments will be available live on Sky Sports or via the NOW streaming platform and the Sky Sports app, offering subscribers access to more than 50 percent additional live sport coverage at no extra charge. For those looking to stay updated, Sky Sports also provides news, videos, features, and analysis through its WhatsApp channel.