Jack Draper was left in tears after a hard‑fought defeat to France's Terence Atmane at the Canadian Open, a match that seemed to expose a lingering problem with his left arm. The 24‑year‑old Brit, who was still nursing a long‑term arm injury, struggled to find his usual power and was visibly emotional during the encounter. The Montreal clash was only Draper's sixth tournament of the season and marked his first appearance since withdrawing from Wimbledon earlier in the summer. He fell 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 to Atmane, a result that belied the promise he showed in the second set before his body gave way in the final set.
The opening set was a difficult start for Draper. He appeared tentative, his serve lacking the snap that usually makes his service games so threatening.
After dropping the first set 6-3, Draper found a second‑wind in the middle of the match. He raised his level, hitting aggressive groundstrokes and delivering a series of powerful serves that allowed him to dominate the second set 6-2. For a moment it looked as if he might turn the tide and push the match into a deciding set on his own terms. However, the momentum was short‑lived.
In the third set, the pain in his left arm became unmistakable. The power behind his serves and his baseline shots diminished dramatically, and his movement slowed.
When the score reached 4-1 in Atmane's favour, Draper broke down physically and emotionally. He sat down on the court and began to cry, an outburst that seemed to come from a place of deep frustration and fear.
Sky Sports commentator Annabel Croft described the scene as "very upsetting" and "pretty emotional," noting that Draper's tears were a clear sign that the arm injury was affecting him more than just his performance. "He's bent over and literally erupting with emotion here," Croft said.
"I can only assume that the arm is hurting. He couldn't hold it in and he let it all out.
You just wonder what is going through his mind for all that emotion to be there." Despite the tears, Draper managed to rally briefly, saving a break point and holding serve once more, showing the resilience that has made him a rising star in British tennis. Yet Atmane quickly regained control and closed out the match after a total duration of 1 hour and 52 minutes.
Draper's recent career trajectory has been impressive. He broke into the top five of the ATP rankings for the first time in June 2025, reaching a career‑high No.
4 and establishing himself as a credible challenger to the dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. His rapid ascent was built on strong results at major events, including a quarter‑final appearance at Indian Wells in March 2026 and a semi‑final run at Eastbourne in June 2026. Unfortunately, his progress has been hampered by recurring injury issues, most notably a bone bruise in his left arm that first surfaced earlier in the season. The bone bruise, which first flared up during the Wimbledon fortnight, has continued to cause intermittent pain and has forced Draper to withdraw from several tournaments.
The injury has limited his ability to generate the same level of serve speed and groundstroke depth that have been hallmarks of his game. It also explains why his performance in Montreal seemed to deteriorate so sharply after a promising second set. Since May, former world No.
1 Andy Murray has been part of Draper's coaching team, providing guidance and support as the young Brit navigates the challenges of the tour. Montreal was only the second event in which Draper could compete under Murray's mentorship, highlighting how the injury has curtailed his match play. Draper now holds a wildcard entry into the upcoming Cincinnati Open, but his recent loss raises fresh concerns about his fitness for that tournament and the subsequent US Open. British tennis fans, however, had some cause for optimism elsewhere in the draw.
Jacob Fearnley secured a victory over veteran Adrian Mannarino, winning 7-6(4), 6-4 to advance to the next round, where he will face 13th seed Jakub Mensik. Meanwhile, Cameron Norrie continued his campaign with a win over 29th seed Ignacio Buse after a solid first‑round performance on Monday.
The broader ATP Tour also saw injury drama, as Spain's Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Cincinnati Open to continue recovering from a right‑wrist problem. Alcaraz's absence fuels speculation about his readiness to defend his US Open title, which is set to commence on August 30. Despite not having played competitively since April, Alcaraz remains ranked world No. 2, underscoring how injuries are reshaping the landscape of men's tennis this season.
Looking ahead, Draper's immediate focus will be on rehabilitation and managing the bone bruise in his left arm. Medical staff will likely assess his recovery timeline, balancing the need for rest with the desire to compete in the North American hard‑court swing. If he can regain his full serve velocity and confidence in his groundstrokes, he could still make a deep run at the US Open, but the path forward will require careful monitoring of his arm health.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching his next appearance closely. The emotional scene in Montreal served as a stark reminder of the physical toll professional tennis can exact, especially on young players pushing themselves to the limit.
Draper's talent is undeniable, and his ability to bounce back from setbacks will be crucial in determining whether he can fulfill the promise that propelled him to a career‑high ranking just a year ago. For those interested in following the ongoing action, the National Bank Open (the combined WTA event in Toronto and ATP event in Montreal) continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available via the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app. The tournament will conclude with the finals on August 13, offering more high‑stakes matches as the summer swing moves toward its climax.