Jack Draper has asked his supporters to show patience as he works his way back onto the tour after withdrawing from the DC Open due to an arm problem. The 23‑year‑old, who was once ranked world No. 4, has missed all three Grand Slam events in 2026, but he has secured a wild‑card entry for the National Bank Open in Montreal. The tournament will serve as a stepping stone toward the US Open qualifying rounds, especially after his ranking slipped to No.
147. His first match back will be against Frenchman Terrance Atmane, a contest that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis. Originally slated for Monday, the fixture was pushed to Tuesday evening because of rain in Montreal. Draper, who is now coached by former world No.
1 Sir Andy Murray, has two more events scheduled 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 riddled with injuries that limited him to just five tour appearances over the previous eight months.
"Having Sir Andy on my team has been a massive boost," Draper explained. "He’s endured so many challenges in his own career, and his experience is invaluable to me." He emphasized that his injury is complex and cannot be solved with a simple "rest and recover" approach.
"Everyone around me is doing everything possible to keep the progress moving forward," he said. "It’s not as straightforward as taking a break and expecting to be fine instantly." Beyond the court, Draper reported that his life is going well.
"Off‑court everything is great, and on‑court I’m managing my situation effectively," he added. "I’m at a point where I feel confident I’ll get through this phase.
It will take time, but I’m doing the right things and I have a solid support network." Despite the steep drop of 143 places in the rankings over the past year, Draper remains upbeat about his long‑term prospects. "I’m in the best place I’ve been in the last twelve months," he said. "The journey has been a real test of patience. It’s about finding the right training load, the appropriate intensity, and giving both on‑court and off‑court work the time to integrate.
My goal is to reach that breakthrough moment soon." He continued, "I’m able to make progress and stay on the court more consistently. I feel the breakthrough is near.
That’s why withdrawing from some tournaments at the last minute has been tough, but those decisions are based on protecting a long career. I need to compete to gauge where I stand." Draper described his situation as a "perfect storm," citing the combination of injuries, ranking decline, and the mental strain of repeated withdrawals.
"When I finally emerge from this storm, I intend to push hard to reach my objectives and exceed them," he affirmed. Fans can follow Draper’s comeback through the National Bank Open in Montreal and later the US Open, which begins on August 30. Sky Sports will provide live coverage, and subscribers can also stream matches via NOW or the Sky Sports app, offering more than 50 percent additional live sport this year at no extra charge. For those interested in more updates, Sky Sports encourages following their WhatsApp channel for the latest news, videos, features, and analysis.
In summary, Jack Draper is taking a measured approach to his return, acknowledging the intricacies of his injury while leaning on the expertise of Sir Andy Murray and his broader support team. He asks fans to be patient as he rebuilds his game, aiming to translate his recent progress into a sustained climb back up the rankings and a return to top‑level competition.