Jack Draper faces unwanted Grand Slam milestone as chronic injury problems continue

Injury-hit tennis star Jack Draper exited the Canadian Open on Tuesday and was left facing the prospect of missing the US Open, which will be played at Queens from the middle of August.

Draper was beaten 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 by Terence Atmane in Montreal. He was noticeably affected by a persistent arm injury throughout the match and was in tears during the third set as his hopes of taking a place at the US Open faded.

"Draper, who was playing in his first tournament since withdrawing from Wimbledon, appeared to be sobbing uncontrollably during the changeover while trailing 4-1 in the third set," reports The Independent.

"Draper has been plagued by bone bruising in his left arm for well over a year, with the complicated injury stopping his career in its tracks after he reached No 4 in the world last season.

"He is now a major doubt to play in the US Open, where he will need to receive a wildcard or enter qualifying to reach the main draw after dropping outside the world's top 100."

The 24-year-old and doubles partner Jessica Pegula reached the mixed doubles semi-finals at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center a year ago, losing to Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud.

Draper and Pegula are scheduled to renew their pairing in the 2026 US Open but the British player's plans are evidently being affected drastically by his injury issues.

Draper also reached the semi-finals of the US Open in 2024 to register his best singles Grand Slam performance to date.

He was defeated in straight sets by Jannik Sinner but took the eventual winner to the wire in each of the first two.

If he does indeed miss out on singles action in New York City in just a couple of weeks' time, Draper will complete an unwanted reverse Grand Slam by being sidelined for all four majors in the calendar year.

After Draper and Pegula's semi-final a year ago, the Londoner's ongoing arm injury forced him out of the Australian Open.

The French Open joined another spate of injury-enforced tournament withdrawals, followed in short order by the devastating collapse of Draper's Wimbledon hopes in the summer as a result of the same injury problem.

The Canadian Open was the British number five's first tournament since he was forced to pull out of Wimbledon and the US Open now looks sure to complete the set.

Bone bruising affecting Draper's left arm is "essentially internal bleeding" in the middle of the bone, according to BBC Sport.

Fellow Brits Arthur Fery and Toby Samuel are also among the many tennis players affected by a similar problem.

"These last months have felt like nothing but adversity and setbacks," said Draper after his Wimbledon disappointment.

"Finding acceptance and being patient with the process has been my biggest challenge, but I know I'm getting closer to where I want to be!"