Jack Draper has been ruled out of the upcoming US Open, marking another significant setback for the former British No. 1. The 24-year-old is still battling a bone bruising injury in his left arm, a condition that previously forced him to miss Wimbledon. This withdrawal means Draper will not have participated in any Grand Slam tournaments this year.
The injury has cast a shadow over Draper's past year, during which his ranking has fallen from a career-high of world number four to 143. His arm issues initially kept him sidelined for seven months, with only a brief US Open appearance where he withdrew before his second match.
Despite attempts to return, a knee problem in the spring sidelined him from the French Open. A subsequent return at Eastbourne ahead of Wimbledon was cut short by renewed arm pain, leading to his decision to skip his home Grand Slam. The situation has continued to be challenging for the player.
In recent weeks, Draper has shown signs of struggle on court. During a match in Canada earlier this month, he was visibly distressed, and in Cincinnati last week, he lost the final five games of his match. Speaking after the Cincinnati event, Draper described his current situation as "difficult," noting that the injury has impacted his characteristic fighting spirit. He has made adjustments to his equipment, including changing his racket and strings, and has been tweaking his service motion in an effort to alleviate the pain, but these measures have not yet provided relief.
Draper's current ranking would have likely required him to compete in the qualifying rounds for the US Open, though a wildcard entry was a possibility. He joins Jannik Sinner, who also withdrew due to a knee injury, and Emma Raducanu as notable absentees from the tournament.
Arthur Fery's unexpected run to the Wimbledon semi-finals has been a rare highlight for British tennis this season, which has been largely impacted by injuries to key players like Draper and Raducanu. In other British tennis news, Sonay Kartal has returned to practice after a back injury but will also miss the US Open. Cameron Norrie, currently the top-ranked British player, along with Fery, Katie Boulter, and Jan Choinski, are expected to compete in the New York tournament.