Jack Draper's injury nightmare continues. The former British number one withdrew from the ATP 500 event in Washington on Monday, citing renewed soreness in his left arm, the same problematic limb that has derailed most of his 2026 season.
What makes the timing especially painful is that Draper had spoken positively about his fitness just 24 hours earlier, telling reporters he felt "physically really good" heading into the tournament. He had also been working closely with new coach Andy Murray in practice sessions that reportedly looked encouraging. Then the familiar discomfort returned, forcing yet another withdrawal.
The pattern is becoming a worrying one. A near-identical scenario played out at Wimbledon last month, where Draper withdrew just a day before his first-round match after initially sounding upbeat about his health. He has now missed the Australian Open, the French Open, and Wimbledon this year, making him a rare top-level player to have missed every Grand Slam in a calendar year so far.
Draper, now ranked 147th in the world after slipping significantly from a career-high of fourth, has completed only around 14 matches in the past 12 months. The root cause is a bruised humerus in his serving arm, a condition he himself has called "complicated." Earlier this year, a knee tendinitis issue added to his troubles before he made a brief return at Eastbourne.
The 24-year-old still hopes to compete in Montreal and Cincinnati before the US Open begins on August 30. However, given his current ranking, he would need to come through qualifying or receive a wildcard to enter the main draw at Flushing Meadows, where he reached the semi-finals in 2024. In Washington, Mackenzie McDonald steps in as lucky loser to replace him.
TennisDraw users tracking Draper's bracket potential this summer have been keeping a close eye on every fitness update as his US Open fate remains uncertain.
