Jack Draper has 'very, very big' mountain to climb in bid to return to his best

Jack Draper faces a monumental challenge as he attempts to reclaim his prime form in the wake of a series of injuries that have hindered his progress. The British tennis player, who reached a career-high ranking of four in 2025, was forced to prematurely end his season due to a bone injury in his arm, compounded by a knee issue. Draper made a return to competition at the Canadian Open, following his withdrawal from Wimbledon in June, where he broke down in tears after a first-round loss to Terence Atmane.

At the Cincinnati Open, Draper found himself on the losing end, trailing 6-3, 7-5 to Martin Landaluce in their first-round match. Despite leading 5-2 in the second set, Landaluce's powerful play saw him win five consecutive games. Draper candidly admitted during a post-match interview that the resilience he typically displays in each point simply seemed absent during the Cincinnati loss.

With a current ranking of 143, Draper's early exits from both Montreal and Cincinnati suggest that qualifying for the US Open through the qualifying tournament may be necessary. This tournament was where Draper demonstrated his prowess in 2024, reaching the semi-final stage. Reflecting on his recent setbacks, Draper candidly expressed the daunting scale of his task, stating that the gap between his current position and his previous level seems enormous. As the US Open begins on August 30, Draper will face a steep climb back to his best.