Jack Draper left the court in tears after his defeat to France's Terence Atmane at the Canadian Open, a match that highlighted the return of the lingering arm injury that has plagued him since his withdrawal from Wimbledon. This was only his sixth tournament of the season and the first he had played after pulling out of the grass‑court major, yet the physical setback proved decisive. The British youngster, now 24, fell 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 to Atmane.
After a shaky opening set in which he struggled to find rhythm, Draper seemed to rediscover his form in the second set, dominating play and taking the set 6-2. However, the momentum evaporated in the deciding set as the power behind his serves and groundstrokes diminished dramatically. Observers noted a noticeable loss of pace and a hesitancy to attack, symptoms that aligned with the bone bruise in his left arm that first surfaced earlier in the season.
Midway through the third set, with the score at 4-1 in Atmane's favour, Draper abruptly sat down on the court and began to weep uncontrollably. The emotional outburst lasted through the entire changeover, drawing concern from commentators and spectators alike. Despite the visible distress, the 24‑year‑old fought on, managing to break Atmane's serve once before holding his own serve to keep the match alive.
Ultimately, Atmane sealed the victory after 112 minutes of play. Draper's rise over the past year has been meteoric.
He broke into the top‑five of the ATP rankings in June 2025, reaching a career‑high world No. 4 and positioning himself as a serious challenger to the dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Yet his progress has been hampered by recurring physical issues. The left‑arm bone bruise, first reported in mid‑2025, has repeatedly limited his ability to serve with his usual power and to sustain long rallies.
The injury resurfaced in Montreal, casting doubt on his capacity to compete in upcoming events. In 2026, Draper managed impressive runs to the quarter‑finals at Indian Wells in March and the semi‑finals at Eastbourne in June, but his appearances have been sporadic due to the need for recovery periods. Since May, former world No.
1 Andy Murray has been part of Draper's coaching team, offering strategic guidance and mentorship. Montreal marked only the second tournament in which Draper could play under Murray's tutelage, underscoring the limited opportunities he has had to build momentum. Looking ahead, Draper has secured a wild‑card entry into the Cincinnati Open next week, but his recent loss raises fresh concerns about his fitness for that event and for the US Open, which begins at the end of August. The British press also highlighted other positive stories from the tournament: Jacob Fearnley defeated Adrian Mannarino 7‑6(4), 6‑4 to advance, and Cameron Norrie prepared to face 29th‑seed Ignacio Buse after a first‑round win.
Sky Sports analyst Annabel Croft, who was commentating on the match, described the scene as "very upsetting". She recounted Draper's emotional breakdown: "He was bent over, literally erupting with emotion. It was very, very upsetting to see. I can only assume the arm is hurting.
He couldn't hold it in and let it all out. You just wonder what is going through his mind for all that emotion to be there." Croft added that the injury seemed to reappear at a critical moment: "We both felt it was this horrible injury that might have reared its ugly head again, and the knowledge of what it's taken for him to get out on court again. He actually played a very decent second set and it was looking fairly positive, but then there was this massive drop‑off of pace on that serve.
It was obvious he was not going after big serves, he was rolling them in. He hasn't really hit a serve since, and hasn't really gone after many groundstrokes either." Draper's situation mirrors a broader injury narrative on the ATP Tour.
Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Cincinnati Open due to a persistent right‑wrist problem, casting doubt on his ability to defend his US Open title later this month. Alcaraz, still ranked world No. 2 despite not having competed since April, missed the French Open and was forced to skip Wimbledon, underscoring how injuries can quickly derail even the most promising seasons.
For Draper, the immediate challenge is to manage his arm condition while maintaining the competitive edge that propelled him into the top‑four. Medical staff are likely to assess the severity of the bone bruise, possibly recommending a brief rest period, targeted physiotherapy, and a gradual return to full‑power serving. In the meantime, his partnership with Murray may focus on adapting his game plan—emphasizing tactical variety, longer rallies, and shot placement over sheer power—to mitigate the risk of aggravating the injury. Fans and analysts will be watching closely as Draper steps onto the court in Cincinnati.
A strong showing could restore confidence and demonstrate that he can compete at the highest level despite physical setbacks. Conversely, another setback could force a longer hiatus, potentially altering the trajectory of a career that, just a year ago, seemed destined to challenge the very top of men's tennis.
The broader British contingent at the Canadian Open offered some optimism. Jacob Fearnley's victory over a seasoned French opponent and Cameron Norrie's upcoming clash with a seeded player highlighted the depth of talent emerging from the UK. Their performances, alongside Draper's emotional struggle, provided a narrative mix of hope and hardship that captured the attention of tennis enthusiasts worldwide.
As the tournament concluded, viewers were reminded to use compatible browsers for optimal video playback and were encouraged to follow further coverage via Sky Sports, the NOW streaming service, and the Sky Sports app, which provide live scores, highlights, and in‑depth analysis of the ongoing ATP and WTA events.