British tennis prospect Jack Draper has confirmed that he will miss the US Open after continuing to grapple with a bone bruise affecting his dominant left arm. After two disappointing outings on American soil, the 24‑year‑old concluded, based on advice from his inner circle, that he needs additional time to heal before returning to competition. The announcement arrived just hours after world No. 1 Jannik Sinner revealed he would sit out the tournament because of a knee problem, while two‑time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz is preparing for a comeback following a four‑month hiatus caused by a wrist injury.
The timing underscores a wave of high‑profile withdrawals that has cast a shadow over the event. Draper, a former world No. 4 who has not featured in any Grand Slam this season, described his situation as "a difficult place" after a first‑round loss to Martin Landalúce at the Cincinnati Open. He admitted that the mental fatigue accumulated over 15 months of battling serious injuries has taken its toll.
Speaking to the Guardian, he said, "It's the same as last week – the way I'm usually able to fight for every ball and conduct myself is just missing. Obviously, the conditions and all the things that I'm changing are very hard to manage, but internally it's a tough spot right now." In an effort to reduce strain on his left arm, Draper has made a series of technical adjustments since Wimbledon. He has experimented with different string tensions and even switched rackets, while also tweaking his service motion to lessen the load on the injured area. Despite these measures, he confessed that the constant battle with pain has eroded one of his most prized attributes – his fighting spirit.
"There's a level of chronic pain that's always with you," he explained. "When it's your playing arm, it's your life, it's your career. When you have an injury that's hard to overcome and hard to understand, there are many challenges and obstacles." Former British No. 1 Annabel Croft, speaking with Gigi Salmon on Sky Sports Tennis, described the current atmosphere in the sport as "doom and gloom." She noted that the resurgence of Draper's bone bruise was evident in his recent emotional outburst and that the injury had repeatedly resurfaced despite exhaustive attempts at treatment.
"He's tried everything and it just keeps coming back, so maybe this is a good decision because a Grand Slam is best‑of‑five sets and absolutely brutal. It's seven matches back‑to‑back, and they looked at that and decided he's not ready for that," Croft said.
She expressed sympathy for Draper, recalling his semi‑final run at the US Open and his history of challenging the world's elite. Former player‑turned‑coach Ryan Harrison added his perspective, highlighting the grueling nature of the modern tour. He pointed out that the year‑end championships in November carry immense prestige and that the race for the world No. 1 ranking remains fierce, with Sinner and Alcaraz battling for the top spot.
Harrison emphasized that the current playing conditions – slower courts and reduced ball speed – demand longer, more physically taxing rallies, making injury prevention even more challenging than it was two or three decades ago when surfaces favored big serves and quick points. Croft also touched on the broader issue of the tennis calendar, noting that many tournaments are individually owned and heavily sponsored, which complicates any attempts to restructure the schedule. She observed that the surfaces have become more homogenised, losing the distinct characteristics that once defined each venue.
"It does feel the surfaces have all been coming together a lot more and there wasn't so much definition. I think a lot of the players would like to see a lot of the courts quickened up," she remarked. In summary, Draper's withdrawal is a sobering reminder of the physical toll the sport can exact on its athletes.
While his immediate focus will be on rehabilitation and finding a sustainable path back to competition, the broader tennis community continues to grapple with questions about player welfare, calendar congestion, and the evolving nature of the game. The US Open will proceed without Draper, but his absence adds another layer to the narrative of an already injury‑laden major tournament.