The tennis world was dealt a fresh twist in the lead-up to the 2025 US Open as British number one Jack Draper announced his withdrawal from two key preparatory tournaments, the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open, due to an arm injury sustained during his Wimbledon campaign. The 23-year-old, ranked world number five, shared the news via social media, reassuring fans that the injury to his left arm, while not severe, requires careful recovery to ensure he’s ready for the final Grand Slam of the year, set to begin on August 24. “After Wimbledon I picked up an injury in my left arm, nothing serious, but I have to make sure it recovers fully for the rest of the season,” Draper posted. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to compete in Toronto and Cincinnati… See you in NYC!” As he sets his sights on Flushing Meadows, where he reached the semi-finals in 2024, Draper’s latest setback adds intrigue to his quest for a maiden major title.
Draper’s 2025 Wimbledon campaign was a tale of promise and frustration. Entering as the fourth seed—the highest British seed since Andy Murray in 2017—he carried the weight of national expectations in the post-Murray era. His first-round match against clay-court specialist Sebastian Baez showcased his explosive potential, with Draper dominating 6-2, 6-2, 2-1 before Baez retired injured after a slip on Court One’s baseline. “I wanted to play a bit longer in all honesty. I felt I was getting my tennis together,” Draper said, expressing a mix of relief and disappointment at the abbreviated victory. “It is no way to win like that, and I wish Sebastian the best in his recovery.” The win marked only his third main-draw victory at Wimbledon, a tournament where he has yet to advance beyond the second round.
The second round, however, brought a crushing defeat to 36-year-old Marin Cilic, the 2017 Wimbledon finalist and 2014 US Open champion. Despite Cilic’s world ranking of 83 and a career marred by injuries, including a serious knee issue, the Croatian delivered a masterclass, defeating Draper 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4. “Obviously, [I feel] really upset. Probably one of the toughest losses I feel,” an emotional Draper admitted post-match. “I thought Cilic played an incredible match from start to finish. [He] didn’t let up. He deserved the win.” Cilic’s resurgence, highlighted by his recent Nottingham Challenger title, underscored his grass-court prowess, but for Draper, the loss was a bitter pill, compounded by the arm injury that emerged afterward.
This injury, affecting the left arm that powers his formidable serve and forehand, is the latest in a career marked by physical challenges. Draper, who once lamented being “the guy who is always injured,” has battled setbacks like tonsillitis at Queen’s Club and a heavy fall in training that sidelined him for two days before the grass season. “I was training on the courts here and took a really heavy fall. I was limping around for a day or so,” he revealed earlier in 2025, noting his quick recovery at the time. Yet, the arm injury, though described as “nothing serious,” has forced him to skip the Canadian Open (starting July 26) and Cincinnati Open (starting August 4), critical ATP 1000 events in the US Open buildup. His absence joins that of Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner, nursing an elbow issue, and Novak Djokovic, recovering from a groin problem, thinning the field in Toronto.
Draper’s meteoric rise in 2025 has made him a focal point of British tennis. His career-high ranking of world number four, achieved after a semi-final run at Queen’s and a historic ATP 1000 title at Indian Wells—where he defeated top-five players Taylor Fritz and Carlos Alcaraz—cemented his status as a top contender. At the Australian Open, he reached the fourth round with three grueling five-set wins, only to retire against Alcaraz due to injury. His US Open semi-final run in 2024, where he fell to Sinner in a dramatic match marred by nerves and sickness, gives him significant ranking points to defend in New York. “I don’t think about it until people mention it every five minutes!” Draper said of the pressure, emphasizing his focus on the present. “I just think about what I can control and play the best tennis I can.”
His game, defined by a powerful left-handed serve and aggressive all-around play, thrives on grass and hard courts, but injuries have often disrupted his momentum. Working with coach James Trotman and Andy Murray’s former fitness team, Draper has prioritized physical durability, a shift that fueled his top-five breakthrough. “The work I’ve done with [breathing coach Ann Coxhead] has been invaluable,” he noted, crediting her for helping him manage pressure. As he eyes the US Open, where he’s seeded to face tough competition, Draper’s recovery will be critical. Fans are rallying behind him, with one X post noting, “Hopefully he recovers quickly and can keep the injury troubles behind him.” With the tennis world watching, Draper’s return to Flushing Meadows could be the stage for his biggest moment yet—or another test of his resilience.
Leave a Reply