Jack Draper suffered a disappointing first‑round loss at the Cincinnati Open, falling 6-3, 7-5 to Spain's rising star Martin Landaluce after squandering six set‑point opportunities that could have leveled the match. The defeat came barely a week after Draper was knocked out in the opening round in Montreal, a tournament he entered while still recovering from a lingering injury. Once again, the 24‑year‑old was unable to sustain a steady level of play and ultimately succumbed to the Spaniard's relentless pressure.
The match began unfavourably for Draper, who was broken in the very first game and quickly fell behind, losing the opening set 6-3. In the second set, however, he appeared to have turned the tide. After securing a double break, Draper surged ahead to 5-2, looking poised to force a tiebreak and possibly reverse his fortunes. Yet the momentum shifted dramatically.
Landaluce fought back fiercely, breaking Draper's serve twice in the next three games and drawing level at 5-5. During this stretch, Draper missed six set points, a missed chance that ultimately decided the outcome. At 5-5, Landaluce even earned a match point, but Draper managed to save it, creating his own opportunity to push the set into a tiebreak. Unfortunately for him, the Spaniard broke again and closed out the match just shy of the two‑hour mark.
Throughout the latter stages, Draper looked visibly despondent, his shoulders slumped and his expression downcast, though he did not appear to be hampered by any acute physical issue. The pattern mirrors Draper's recent struggles in Montreal, where he lost to Terence Atmane. In that encounter, his powerful groundstrokes faded dramatically in the third set, and he was seen in tears during a changeover, hinting at the emotional toll of his ongoing arm problem.
The injury, which first flared in June 2025, has been a persistent thorn in his side ever since he reached a career‑high ranking of world No. 4. While his swift return to practice courts in Cincinnati seemed to allay some concerns, only Draper and his inner circle truly know the extent of his physical state.
"It's the same as last week," Draper told the Guardian, his voice tinged with frustration. "The way I usually can fight for every ball and conduct myself on court is just missing. The conditions, the adjustments I'm forced to make—it's all very hard to manage. Internally, it's a difficult place to be right now." He went on to explain that the chronic pain in his left arm has become a constant companion.
"When you have that on your playing arm—this is my life, my career—you feel the weight of it every point. An injury that's hard to overcome and even harder to understand creates countless challenges and obstacles. It has taken away one of my biggest qualities, my fighting spirit." Despite the disappointment, Draper managed to finish the match without any obvious signs of a new injury, suggesting that the lingering pain is more of a nagging, chronic issue than a fresh trauma.
As the US Open looms on August 30 in New York, the British youngster faces a crucial period of assessment and possible adjustment. He must decide whether to continue competing while managing the discomfort or to take a more cautious approach to preserve his long‑term health.
In other news from the tournament, fellow Briton Cameron Norrie demonstrated his resurgence on hard courts by overturning a first‑set deficit to defeat Croatia's Dino Prizmic 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in just under two hours. After a six‑match losing streak that included an early Wimbledon exit, Norrie has rediscovered his trademark grit, reaching the semi‑finals in Los Cabos and the quarter‑finals in Montreal. However, his path forward in Cincinnati remains steep, as he is slated to meet top seed Alexander Zverev in the second round after receiving a first‑round bye.
The Cincinnati Open continues to deliver high‑stakes drama, with both established stars and emerging talents battling for supremacy. For Draper, the immediate challenge is not only to heal his arm but also to rebuild the mental resilience that has defined his ascent in the sport.
The upcoming US Open will be the first true test of whether he can translate his raw talent into consistent performance despite the physical setbacks he has endured. Fans can follow live scores, results, and upcoming match schedules on the Sky Sports app, and stream the ATP and WTA tours as well as the US Open starting August 30 via NOW or the Sky Sports platform.