Jack Draper was left visibly distraught after his defeat to France’s Terence Atmane at the Canadian Open, a match that seemed to bring back the lingering pain of a long‑standing arm injury. The 24‑year‑old Brit, who was making his first appearance since pulling out of Wimbledon, fought valiantly but ultimately fell 6‑3, 2‑6, 6‑2, and his emotional reaction on court drew considerable attention. Having entered only his sixth tournament of the season, Draper entered the Montreal event with high expectations. He had been riding a wave of success, climbing to a career‑high world No.
4 in June 2025 and establishing himself as one of the few players capable of challenging the dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Yet, the match against Atmane quickly turned into a test of both his physical resilience and mental fortitude. The opening set saw Draper struggling to find his rhythm, dropping games early and eventually losing 6‑3. The early rust was evident, but the British player appeared to turn a corner in the second set.
He began to dictate play, hitting clean, aggressive groundstrokes and serving with more authority, which allowed him to take the set 6‑2. For a moment it seemed that the arm issue might be under control, and Draper’s confidence surged.
However, the momentum did not last. In the deciding set, the power behind his serves and forehands noticeably waned. Observers noted a marked reduction in pace, as Draper seemed to be rolling his serves rather than firing them. When the score reached 4‑1 in Atmane’s favour, Draper sat down during the change‑over and began to weep openly, a sight that was both heartbreaking and rare on a professional tennis stage.
Despite the emotional outburst, Draper managed to rally briefly, earning a break point and holding his serve with renewed determination. Yet Atmane’s consistency proved too much, and he closed out the match after an hour and 52 minutes of play. The British star’s tears were captured by Sky Sports pundit Annabel Croft, who described the scene as "very upsetting" and "emotionally charged," adding that the visible pain in Draper’s arm was likely the catalyst for his breakdown. The injury in question is a bone bruise in Draper’s left arm, first reported earlier in the season.
Since then, the condition has intermittently flared, limiting his ability to generate the explosive serve speeds that have been a hallmark of his game. The injury resurfaced during the Montreal match, leading to a noticeable drop in power and forcing Draper to adapt his style mid‑contest.
Draper’s coaching team, which now includes former world No. 1 Andy Murray since May, has been working to manage the injury while trying to maintain his competitive edge. Montreal was only the second tournament in which Draper and Murray have collaborated on court, and the outcome highlighted the challenges they face in balancing recovery with high‑level performance. Looking ahead, Draper holds a wild‑card entry into the upcoming Cincinnati Open.
However, his recent performance raises questions about his fitness for that event and the subsequent US Open, where expectations remain high. The British tennis community also had cause for optimism elsewhere, with Jacob Fearnley defeating Adrian Mannarino and Cameron Norrie securing a win, but Draper’s situation remains a focal point of concern. The broader ATP Tour also grappled with injury news, as Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from Cincinnati due to a right‑wrist problem. Alcaraz’s absence fuels speculation about his readiness to defend his US Open title, further underscoring the impact of physical setbacks on the sport’s marquee players.
In summary, Draper’s tearful episode in Montreal serves as a stark reminder of the fine line elite athletes walk between peak performance and injury management. While his talent and recent rise in the rankings suggest a bright future, the recurring arm bruise could dictate the trajectory of his season.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as he approaches the next few tournaments, hoping that his partnership with Murray and any forthcoming medical interventions will allow him to return to his full, powerful game without the emotional toll that has recently become evident on the court.