Jack Draper was overcome with emotion and visibly struggled during his first-round match at the Canadian Open, ultimately leading to his defeat. The British tennis player, competing in his comeback after dealing with injury difficulties, was seen wiping tears from his eyes during a change of ends in the third set. He ultimately lost to France's Atmane, who will advance to face Karen Khachanov in the second round.
Draper appeared nervous at the start of the match but showed flashes of his previous form, winning the second set 6-2 after dropping the first 6-3. However, a depleted Draper returned for the third set, surrendering the opening game and later showing frustration at missed opportunities, including a break point that went into the net.
Following his loss, Draper's participation in the upcoming Cincinnati Open, where he has a wildcard entry, is now in doubt. His involvement in the US Open, scheduled to begin on August 23, also hangs in the balance due to this incident. The exact nature of the injury that has sidelined Draper and its impact on his current performance remain unclear, but the emotional display suggests significant physical and mental strain.
In an earlier match, British player Jacob Fearnley defeated France's Adrian Mannarino 7-6, 6-4 to secure a place in the second round against Jakub Mensik.