Jack Draper has appealed to his supporters to give him time as he works his way back onto the tour after withdrawing from the DC Open due to a troublesome arm injury. The 23‑year‑old, who previously held the world No. 4 ranking, has not featured in any of the three Grand Slam events of the 2026 season.
Nevertheless, he has secured a wild‑card entry into the National Bank Open in Montreal, a key stepping stone before he attempts to qualify for the US Open, especially after his ranking slipped to No. 147.
His first match back is slated against Frenchman Terrance Atmane and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis. Originally scheduled for Monday, the encounter was pushed to Tuesday evening because of rain‑affected courts in Montreal. Draper, who is now coached by former world No. 1 Sir Andy Murray, has two more tournaments lined up before he heads to New York for the US Open qualifiers.
He told Sky Sports News that his rehabilitation is nearing its final stages after a year marred by injuries that limited him to just five tour events over an eight‑month period. "Having Sir Andy on my team has been a massive boost," Draper said.
"He’s endured a lot of hardship in his 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 everyone around me is doing everything possible to keep the progress moving forward," he explained. "It’s not as straightforward as taking a break and coming back fully fit." Outside of tennis, Draper noted that his life is going well, and he feels confident about his on‑court recovery.
"I’m at a point where I’m happy that I’ll get through this phase. It will take time, but I’m doing the right things and I have strong support from my team," he added. Despite a dramatic drop of 143 places in the rankings over the past year, Draper remains optimistic about his future and his ability to return to full strength. "I’m in the best place I’ve been in the last twelve months," he said.
"The process has been a real test of patience. It’s about finding the right training load, the right intensity, and allowing everything I’m doing—both on and off the court—to click together so I can finally break through." He continued, "I’m making progress and staying on the court more consistently.
I feel that the breakthrough moment is approaching, and I believe it’s happening now. It’s been tough having to withdraw from tournaments at the last minute, but those decisions are based on the long‑term view of my career. I need to play to assess where I stand." Draper described his situation as a "perfect storm," with multiple setbacks converging. "When I finally emerge from this storm, I’ll push hard to reach my goals and exceed them," he affirmed.
Looking ahead, Draper’s schedule includes the remainder of the National Bank Open in Montreal, followed by the US Open, which begins on August 30. Fans can follow his progress on Sky Sports, either through traditional broadcast, the Sky Sports app, or the NOW streaming service.
The British player’s determination to rebuild his game, coupled with the guidance of Sir Andy Murray, suggests that while the road to the top may be longer than anticipated, his resolve remains unshaken. The tennis world will be watching closely as Draper aims to translate his hard work and patience into a resurgence on the ATP circuit.