Jack Draper was reduced to tears after succumbing to France's Terence Atmane at the Canadian Open, a defeat that seemed to underline the resurfacing of his lingering arm injury. The 24‑year‑old Brit, who had only entered his sixth tournament of the season and his first event since withdrawing from Wimbledon, fought a three‑set battle that ended 6‑3, 2‑6, 6‑2 in Atmane's favour.
The match began with Draper looking a little rusty, a common trait after a long lay‑off, but he quickly found his rhythm in the second set. With aggressive groundstrokes and a more confident serve, he surged ahead to take the set 6‑2, suggesting that he might have finally shaken off the physical issues that have plagued him since the middle of last season.
However, the momentum proved short‑lived. In the decisive third set, the power behind his serves and the depth of his baseline shots noticeably dwindled, hinting that the arm problem was beginning to assert itself once more. At a critical juncture, with the scoreline at 4‑1 in favour of Atmane, Draper abruptly sat down during the change‑over and began to weep uncontrollably. The emotional outburst was captured by the broadcast, showing a young player overwhelmed by both the disappointment of the match and the physical pain that was likely gnawing at his left arm.
Despite the tears, Draper displayed remarkable composure, fighting back to earn a break point and then holding serve with renewed vigor. Yet Atmane reclaimed control and closed the encounter after a total playing time of one hour and fifty‑two minutes. Draper's ascent over the past year had positioned him as one of the few challengers capable of disrupting the dominance of the sport's new titans, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
In June 2025 he reached a career‑high ranking of world No. 4, a testament to his rapid development and the high expectations placed upon him by British tennis fans. Unfortunately, his rise has been repeatedly hampered by a bone bruise in his left arm, first reported in early 2024, which has caused intermittent pain and limited his ability to maintain a consistent tournament schedule.
The injury first manifested during a grueling stretch of matches in the spring, and despite extensive physiotherapy and a modified training regime, the bruise has remained a persistent obstacle. In 2026 Draper managed to string together a quarter‑final run at Indian Wells in March and a semi‑final appearance at Eastbourne in June, but those results have been interspersed with withdrawals and early exits, underscoring the difficulty of staying on court with a compromised limb. Since May, former world No.
1 Andy Murray has been part of Draper's coaching team, offering both tactical guidance and mentorship. Montreal, however, marked only the second tournament where Draper could compete under Murray's tutelage, highlighting how the injury has limited the duo's collaborative opportunities.
Looking ahead, Draper has secured a wildcard entry into the upcoming Cincinnati Open, yet his recent performance in Montreal raises fresh concerns about his fitness for that event and the looming US Open. While Draper's personal drama dominated headlines, other British players delivered more uplifting news. Jacob Fearnley dispatched veteran Adrian Mannarino 7‑6(4), 6‑4 to advance to the next round, where he will meet 13th seed Jakub Mensik.
Meanwhile, Cameron Norrie earned a first‑round victory and now prepares to face 29th seed Ignacio Buse. Their successes offered a brief respite from Draper's struggles and reminded fans that British tennis still has depth.
Sky Sports analyst Annabel Croft, who was calling the match, described the scene as "very upsetting" and emphasized the emotional weight of Draper's breakdown. She remarked, "He bent over and literally erupted with emotion. It was very, very upsetting to see." Croft speculated that the arm pain was the primary trigger, noting that Draper's serve lost its usual velocity and that he appeared to be rolling his serves rather than powering them.
"He hasn't really hit a big serve since, and his groundstrokes lacked their usual bite," she added. The broader ATP Tour also faced injury headlines, as Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Cincinnati Open due to a lingering right‑wrist problem. Alcaraz's absence fuels speculation about his readiness to defend his US Open title, which commences on August 30. Despite not having competed since April, Alcaraz remains ranked world No.
2, a reflection of his strong performances earlier in the season. In summary, Draper's tearful episode in Montreal serves as a stark reminder of how fragile a tennis career can be when injuries strike at inopportune moments. The combination of physical pain, mental strain, and the pressure of living up to lofty expectations created a perfect storm that culminated in an emotional collapse on court.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see whether Draper can recover fully, manage his arm condition, and return to the form that once saw him perched among the sport's elite. The upcoming Cincinnati Open and the US Open will be critical tests of his resilience and his ability to translate raw talent into sustained success on the ATP Tour.