Jack Draper has secured a wild‑card invitation to compete in the National Bank Open, the premier ATP Masters‑1000 event held in Montreal, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports beginning Monday, August 3. This opportunity comes as part of a small group of discretionary entries granted by the tournament organizers, alongside fellow Canadians Alexis Galarneau and Liam Draxl, who also received the final wild‑card slots.
The British player, a former world No. 4, is still on the mend from a lingering left‑arm injury that has plagued his 2026 season.
In addition to the Montreal invitation, Draper has been handed another wild‑card for the upcoming Cincinnati Open, scheduled to start on August 13, giving him a back‑to‑back chance to test his recovery against top‑level competition. Draper's 2026 campaign has been dominated by setbacks. A series of physical problems forced him to miss all three Grand Slam events – the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon – and limited his participation on the regular tour to just five tournaments. The most recent of those appearances was at the Eastbourne International last month, where he managed a brief return before the injury resurfaced.
His entry into the National Bank Open was made possible after a late withdrawal from the Washington, D.C. Open (the Citi Open) earlier this week. That vacancy opened the door for Draper to step into the main draw without having to navigate the qualifying rounds, a significant advantage given his current ATP ranking of No.
147. At that position, he would normally be required to play qualifying matches to earn a spot at the US Open in September, as his ranking does not guarantee direct entry into the Grand Slam main draw. Draper’s coaching team is led by former world No. 2 and Wimbledon champion Sir Andy Murray, who has been closely involved in managing the British player's rehabilitation and return to form.
In a recent interview conducted before his withdrawal from Washington, Draper reflected on the challenges of the past year: "I've had an incredibly challenging 12 months, a lot of adversity, a lot of problem solving, a lot of pain, and trying to understand that and come through it. I've never had a long‑term injury before so I feel much better than I ever have in the last year.
I feel physically really good." These remarks underscore the physical and mental toll that the arm injury, compounded by occasional knee and shoulder issues, has taken on Draper. The left‑arm problem first forced him off the tour a year ago, and since then his schedule has been sporadic, with only a handful of matches each month. The combination of chronic pain and repeated setbacks has made his comeback a slow and uncertain process.
Looking ahead, Draper’s immediate focus will be on making the most of his wild‑card entries in Montreal and Cincinnati. Both tournaments provide valuable match play against high‑calibre opponents, which is essential for rebuilding confidence and improving his ranking. A strong showing could accelerate his climb back up the ATP ladder and potentially secure direct acceptance into the US Open main draw, a goal that currently hangs in the balance.
The National Bank Open itself is a key fixture on the North American hard‑court swing, attracting the world’s elite players and offering substantial ranking points. For Draper, competing against such a deep field presents a dual opportunity: to gauge his physical readiness against top competition and to demonstrate to tournament directors that he can handle the pressures of high‑stakes matches after a prolonged absence.
Fans can follow Draper’s progress live on Sky Sports, which will provide comprehensive coverage of the Montreal event from August 3 onward. In addition to traditional broadcast, viewers have the option to stream matches contract‑free via the NOW platform or the Sky Sports app, which promises over 50 percent more live sport coverage this year at no extra cost for Sky Sports subscribers. While the immediate spotlight is on his participation in Montreal, the broader narrative of Draper’s 2026 season remains one of resilience.
Overcoming a series of injuries that have kept him out of the Australian Open, the French Open, and Wimbledon, he now faces the final Grand Slam of the year – the US Open – with his participation still uncertain. A successful run in the upcoming Masters events could be the catalyst that restores his standing and secures his place at Flushing Meadows. In summary, Jack Draper’s wild‑card entry into the National Bank Open represents a critical juncture in a year marked by injury and limited competition.
Backed by the experienced guidance of Sir Andy Murray and buoyed by a renewed sense of physical well‑being, Draper aims to translate his recovery into tangible results on the court. Whether he can translate this chance into a deeper run—and ultimately a return to the top tiers of the ATP rankings—will be closely watched by tennis enthusiasts and analysts alike.