Jack Draper's injury-plagued 2026 season may finally be turning a corner. Ahead of the Washington Open, the British left-hander produced a commanding 6-1 practice set victory over Ben Shelton, who enters the tournament as the second seed and a current top-10 player. The result has understandably generated excitement among Draper's supporters.
Courtside observer Christian's Court reported on social media that Draper's left arm and serve looked sharp during the session, and that coach Andy Murray appeared genuinely pleased with how his player is moving and competing again.
It has been a turbulent year for Draper. After recovering from an arm injury earlier in the season, he showed flashes of brilliance, picking up wins over Novak Djokovic, Francisco Cerundolo, and Roberto Bautista Agut. However, a knee injury sustained against Tomas Martin Etcheverry at the Barcelona Open derailed his progress, sidelining him for weeks. He returned briefly for the grass season, reaching the Eastbourne semifinals, before his arm again forced him to withdraw from Wimbledon.
The stakes in Washington are significant for Draper beyond simply recapturing form. He currently needs to go through qualifying to earn a spot in the US Open main draw, meaning a strong showing here could help him secure a wildcard invitation.
His opening match comes against Alex Michelsen, while Shelton faces a qualifier or lucky loser. Observers did note that Shelton's forehand looked inconsistent during practice, which adds some uncertainty to the American's prospects after his early Wimbledon exit against Otto Virtanen.
The main draw gets underway on Monday, July 27th. TennisDraw users will want to keep a close eye on Draper's bracket position as he looks to remind the tour just how dangerous he can be.
