Jack Draper was left visibly upset 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 withdrawing from Wimbledon, fought hard but ultimately fell 6‑3, 2‑6, 6‑2, and was seen in tears during a changeover as the physical strain became overwhelming.
This was only Draper’s sixth tournament of the season and his first since the Wimbledon withdrawal, making the loss all the more disheartening. After a shaky opening set that saw him trail 3‑6, he rallied impressively in the second, dominating the games and taking the set 6‑2.
For a moment it looked as if he might have found his rhythm again, but the third set told a different story. The power behind his serves and the depth of his groundstrokes faded dramatically, suggesting that his arm was not coping with the demands of high‑level tennis. When the score reached 4‑1 in the final set, Draper sat down on the court and began to sob, an emotional outburst that appeared to be beyond his control.
He stayed on the bench for the entire changeover, wiping away tears before returning to the match. Despite the visible distress, he managed to hold serve once more and even threatened a break, but Atmane ultimately sealed the win after an hour and 52 minutes of play. Draper’s rise over the past year has been meteoric. By June 2025 he had climbed to a career‑high world No.
4, positioning himself as a serious challenger to the dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. However, his progress has been repeatedly hampered by a bone bruise in his left arm that first surfaced earlier this season.
The injury has limited his ability to generate the same firepower on serve and forehand, and it resurfaced in Montreal, casting doubt on his capacity to compete at the highest level. In 2026 Draper showed flashes of his former brilliance, reaching the quarter‑finals at Indian Wells in March and the semi‑finals at Eastbourne in June.
Yet, consistency has remained elusive, largely because of the recurring arm issue. Since May, former world No. 1 Andy Murray has been part of Draper’s coaching team, offering guidance and experience.
Montreal marked only the second tournament in which the duo could work together on‑court, highlighting how injury setbacks have limited their collaboration. Looking ahead, Draper has received a wild‑card entry into the Cincinnati Open next week.
Nonetheless, his recent performance in Montreal is likely to fuel fresh concerns about his fitness for that event and the upcoming US Open. The British press also reported a brighter note for the nation’s tennis prospects: Jacob Fearnley secured a 7‑6(4), 6‑4 win over Adrian Mannarino, earning a place in the next round where he will face 13th seed Jakub Mensik. Meanwhile, Cameron Norrie continued his campaign with a victory over 29th seed Ignacio Buse. Sky Sports analyst Annabel Croft, who was calling the match, described Draper’s emotional display as "very upsetting." She recounted his breakdown: "He’s bent over and literally erupting with emotion here.
It’s very, very upsetting to see." Croft added that the likely cause was the arm injury resurfacing, noting the stark reduction in serve speed and the tentative approach to groundstrokes in the final set. "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," Croft said. The broader ATP Tour also faced injury headlines, as Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Cincinnati Open due to a lingering right‑wrist problem.
Alcaraz’s absence raises questions about his readiness to defend his US Open title when the tournament begins on August 30. Despite not having played competitively since April, Alcaraz remains world No. 2, but his wrist issue prevented him from defending his French Open crown and from pursuing a third Wimbledon victory. Draper’s situation underscores the fragile nature of a tennis career where a single injury can derail momentum.
The bone bruise in his left arm, first reported earlier this season, continues to affect his serve mechanics and confidence on the court. Medical experts explain that such bruises can cause chronic inflammation, reducing a player’s ability to generate power and increasing the risk of more severe damage if not managed carefully. For Draper, the immediate challenge will be to recover fully before Cincinnati, where he will need to prove that he can still compete against the world’s elite.
His partnership with Andy Murray may provide the tactical adjustments and mental support required to navigate this difficult period. If he can manage his arm load, refine his service motion, and regain his aggressive baseline play, there is still a realistic path back to the top‑10. Fans and commentators alike will be watching closely, hoping that the British prodigy can overcome this setback and return to the form that made him a No. 4 in the world.
The next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether Draper’s career trajectory continues its upward climb or stalls due to injury. In the meantime, the tennis community remains supportive, recognizing the emotional toll that such physical struggles can exact on a young athlete striving for greatness.