British tennis player Jack Draper has received a wild card entry into next week’s Cincinnati Masters 1000 event, despite an emotionally difficult loss at the National Bank Open in Montreal.
Draper competed in his first match since June against France’s Terence Atmane. Playing through visible discomfort, Draper lost 6-3 2-6 6-2, breaking down in tears during the match after being broken to trail 4-1 in the third set. The emotional display highlighted the physical and mental toll of Draper’s ongoing recovery from a bone bruise in his left arm.
Draper’s participation in the US Open, scheduled to begin on August 30, remains uncertain and would require a wild card invitation. He is also slated to compete in mixed doubles at Flushing Meadows the preceding week alongside American Jessica Pegula, though Pegula acknowledged their participation is now in doubt given his health concerns. If Draper cannot compete in New York, it would mark his fourth consecutive Grand Slam missed due to injury.
The 24-year-old has faced a challenging injury trajectory. His problems began following a second-round exit at Wimbledon last year. After attempting a comeback and withdrawing from the US Open, he returned to competition in February, achieving a notable victory over Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells. However, adjustments to his service motion to address his arm issue resulted in a knee injury, causing another extended absence. Following strong performances at Eastbourne reaching the semi-finals, Draper withdrew from Wimbledon after his arm flared up again.
Speaking before the Montreal event, Draper characterized his injury as complex and complicated, describing his situation as a “perfect storm” while expressing optimism about his eventual return to form.
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