Jack Draper’s return to the court ended in frustration on Tuesday, with the 24-year-old breaking down in tears after a first-round loss to Terence Atmane at the Canadian Open in Montreal.
Draper, who has been out with a persistent arm injury and recurring discomfort, fell 6-3 2-6 6-2 in a match that underlined how much the injury has disrupted his 2025 season. The British player had already pulled out of planned comeback appearances at Wimbledon and the Washington Open during the summer, and this was supposed to be another step toward getting back to full fitness.
A comeback that raised more questions
The result was a setback for Draper, who won the Indian Wells Open earlier before injuries intervened. His ranking has also taken a sharp hit, dropping from fourth to as low as 160th over a 12-month period. That slide reflects both the quality he has shown when healthy and the length of time he has spent dealing with physical problems.
At the Canadian Open, Draper never looked able to build momentum for long enough to turn the match around. After leveling the contest by taking the second set, he faded again in the decider as Atmane closed out the upset.
The immediate concern now is the schedule ahead. The Cincinnati Open starts next week, and the US Open begins on 23 August. Given the way Draper looked in Montreal, those events may depend on how quickly he can recover and whether he is healthy enough to compete properly.
Mixed doubles plans still loom
There is also the matter of his expected partnership with Jessica Pegula in New York after the pair reached the semi-finals of the revamped mixed doubles competition in 2025. Pegula said she knew Draper had been struggling with injuries and described his match in Montreal as a tough day, while also making clear that his health will determine whether they can play at the US Open.
For Draper, the performance was a reminder that the comeback process is not always linear. He has the talent to make an impact when fit, but until the arm settles down, every return comes with uncertainty attached.
