Jack Draper has appealed to his supporters to exercise patience as he prepares to re‑enter the competitive circuit after a troublesome spell that forced him to pull out of the DC Open with an arm problem. The 24‑year‑old, who once held the world No. 4 ranking, has not featured in any of the three Grand Slam events this year, but a wildcard entry has been granted for the National Bank Open in Montreal, giving him a stepping‑stone toward the US Open qualifying rounds now that his ranking has slipped to No. 147.
His first match back is slated against French hopeful Terrance Atmane and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis. The encounter was originally due to be played on Monday, but inclement weather in Montreal pushed the start time to Tuesday evening. Draper, who is now being coached by former world No.
1 Sir Andy Murray, has a compact schedule ahead of the American hard‑court swing, with two more tournaments pencilled in before he heads to New York for the US Open qualifiers. In a candid interview with Sky Sports News, Draper explained that his rehabilitation is finally reaching a turning point after a year marred by injuries that limited him to just five tour events over the previous eight months. He highlighted the impact of Murray’s involvement on his support team, noting that having a mentor who has endured a similarly arduous career has been "a massive benefit". "Andy’s experience with setbacks and comebacks gives me a perspective that I can’t get elsewhere," Draper said.
He also stressed the complexity of his physical issues, warning that a simple prescription of rest and recovery would be insufficient. "The injury I’m dealing with is very complex and multifaceted," he explained.
"Everyone around me is doing everything possible to keep the momentum going, but it’s not just about lying down and waiting for the body to heal." Outside of tennis, Draper reported that his life is progressing well, and he feels confident about his on‑court prospects. "Everything off the court is going amazingly, and on the court I’m managing my game well too," he said. "I’m at a point now where I’m happy that I will come through this period.
It will take some time, but I’m doing all the right things and the people around me are fully supportive." Despite a dramatic drop of 143 places in the rankings over the past twelve months, Draper remains optimistic about a full‑strength return to the upper echelons of the sport. "I’m in the best place I’ve been in the last year," he affirmed.
"The process I’m on is a real patience game. It’s about finding the right load, the right intensity, and giving myself the time to let everything I’m doing—both on and off the court—come together." He believes that the pieces are finally aligning for a breakthrough. "I’m able to progress and stay on the court. I’m getting closer to that moment and I believe that moment is now," Draper said.
"That’s why it’s been difficult to commit to tournaments and then have to withdraw at the last minute. Those decisions are made because I have a long career ahead of me, and I need to test where I stand." Draper described his recent challenges as a "perfect storm" that has tested his resilience on multiple fronts. "It’s been a perfect storm for me in a lot of ways," he reflected. "When I get out of this storm, I’m going to push forward, aiming to reach where I want to be and beyond." Looking ahead, Draper’s immediate focus is on delivering a solid performance at the National Bank Open, using the event as a springboard toward the US Open, which begins on August 30.
He plans to leverage the experience gained in Montreal to fine‑tune his game ahead of the hard‑court season, with an eye on rebuilding his ranking and re‑establishing himself among the sport’s elite. Fans can follow his progress via Sky Sports’ live coverage or stream the matches through NOW and the Sky Sports app.
Draper’s journey underscores the importance of patience, strategic planning, and a robust support network in navigating the ups and downs of professional tennis, especially when confronting a series of setbacks that threaten to derail a promising career.