Jack Draper’s participation in the upcoming US Open is in serious doubt following a distressing performance during his first match in over two months at the National Bank Open in Montreal. The 24-year-old British player, who has been sidelined for nearly seven months due to a recurring bone bruise in his left arm, broke down in tears on court after a three-set loss to France’s Terence Atmane.

Draper showed resilience in the second set, winning it to push the match to a decider. However, ongoing discomfort visibly affected his serve and overall gameplay. After being broken while trailing 4-1 in the final set, Draper sat down, overcome with emotion, before eventually losing 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.

This defeat raises doubts over Draper’s ability to compete in the US Open, which begins on August 30. He has been awarded a wild card for the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati next week, but would require a wild card once again to enter the US Open main draw. Draper is also scheduled to compete in the mixed doubles at Flushing Meadows alongside American Jessica Pegula, who acknowledged the uncertainty of their participation after observing Draper’s struggles in Montreal. Pegula, a former mixed doubles semi-finalist with Draper, expressed hope for his recovery but emphasized the ongoing concerns surrounding his fitness.

Draper’s injury troubles began following a second-round exit at Wimbledon last year when he sustained a bone bruise in his left arm. Since then, he has missed three consecutive Grand Slam tournaments. His attempts to return to competitive play have been hampered by multiple setbacks, including withdrawing from the US Open last year ahead of a second-round match and a subsequent knee injury linked to adjustments in his service motion.

Despite glimpses of promise, including a win over Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells earlier this year and a semi-final appearance at Eastbourne shortly before Wimbledon, Draper’s chronic arm issues forced him to withdraw from competition again. His ranking has fallen from a career-high of No. 4 to No. 143 during this injury-plagued period.

Draper has described the injury as “very complex,” stating that he and his team are exploring all possible avenues to facilitate his recovery. Meanwhile, other British players, such as Jacob Fearnley, have seen more positive outcomes recently, with Fearnley progressing to the second round in Montreal.

As it stands, Draper’s immediate future remains uncertain, with his ability to compete at the US Open and beyond dependent on his health in the coming weeks.