Jack Draper has appealed to his followers to exercise patience as he works his way back to competition after pulling out of the DC Open with an arm problem. The 23‑year‑old, who previously reached a career‑high ranking of world No.
4, has not featured in any of the three Grand Slam events of 2026. Nonetheless, he has secured a wild‑card entry into the National Bank Open in Montreal, a key stepping stone as he prepares for the US Open qualifying rounds, having seen his ranking tumble to No. 147. His first match back will be against French competitor Terrance Atmane, a contest that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis.
Originally slated for Monday, the encounter was pushed to Tuesday evening due to rain‑related disruptions in Montreal. Draper, who now trains under the guidance of Sir Andy Murray, has two additional tournaments on his schedule before he heads to New York for the US Open qualifiers.
In a candid interview with Sky Sports News, Draper explained that his recovery is nearing a decisive stage after a year marred by injuries that limited him to just five tour events over an eight‑month span. "Having Sir Andy on my team has been a massive benefit," he said, acknowledging the former world No.
1’s experience in overcoming adversity. "He's been through a lot of struggle in his career, and his insight is invaluable." He emphasized the complexity of his condition, warning that a simple prescription of "rest and heal" would be insufficient. "The injury I have is very complex and complicated," Draper noted.
"Everyone around me is doing everything they can to keep the rehabilitation moving forward. It's not as simple as just resting and expecting to be fine." Outside of tennis, Draper reported that he feels "amazing" and that his off‑court life is thriving, which he believes positively influences his on‑court performance. "I'm at a point now where I'm happy that I will come through this period," he said. "It will take some time, but I'm doing all the right things, and the people around me are really supporting me." Despite a precipitous drop of 143 places in the rankings over the past year, Draper remains optimistic about a full‑strength resurgence.
"I'm in the best place I've been in the last year," he asserted. "The process I'm on is a real patience game.
It's about getting the right load, the right intensity, and allowing everything I'm doing—both on and off the court—to come together so I can finally break through." He added that his progress is tangible: "I am able to really progress and stay on the court. I'm getting closer to that moment, and I believe that moment is now." This optimism is tempered by the practicalities of tournament scheduling. "It's been difficult to go to tournaments and have to pull out at the last minute," Draper admitted, "but those decisions are based on the fact that I have a long career ahead of me, and I need to test where I stand." Describing his recent challenges as a "perfect storm," Draper conveyed a determination to emerge stronger. "When I get out of this storm, I'm going to push on to hopefully get to where I want to be and beyond," he said.
Fans can follow Draper's comeback at the National Bank Open in Montreal, with the match against Atmane set to be streamed live on Sky Sports. The US Open, beginning on August 30, will also be available via Sky Sports' broadcast and the NOW streaming platform, offering subscribers access to a significantly expanded live‑sport portfolio this year.
Draper's journey underscores the resilience required in professional tennis, where injuries can swiftly alter a player's trajectory, but perseverance and a supportive team can pave the way back to the top.