Jack Draper Withdraws from US Open
Jack Draper, a 5th seed at the US Open, has officially pulled out of the men’s singles competition due to a lingering injury affecting his left arm. The talented British player, who made an impressive run to the semifinals at Flushing Meadows the previous year, has not participated in any tournaments since Wimbledon, having first experienced discomfort in his arm during the clay-court season earlier this year. Medical evaluations revealed that he is suffering from a bruised humerus, which is the bone that extends from the shoulder to the elbow.
“I’m sorry to say I’ll be withdrawing from the US Open. I tried my very best to be here and give myself every chance to play, but the discomfort in my arm has become too much, and I have to do what is right and look after myself.”
This withdrawal is historically significant as it marks the first instance in the Open era, which began in 1968, where a top-five seeded male player has opted out of the US Open tournament. With this change, Zizou Bergs from Belgium moves forward to the third round without having to compete, due to the walkover.
Impact on Draper’s Career
Prior to his unfortunate exit, Draper had recorded a first-round victory against qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez and had indicated that he felt he was back in action sooner than anticipated. He had also competed in a mixed doubles event with American partner Jessica Pegula, which he viewed as a test for his arm’s resilience.
“With the injury I had in my arm, the return to competition is probably about eight weeks; I’m here seven weeks, so I’m early.”
He reflected on the emotional rollercoaster, acknowledging both the optimism and setbacks he faced during his recovery process. Draper noted,
“There’s days where you’re really pumped because you think you’re on a good path, and then there’s days where you have setbacks.”
Draper’s withdrawal shakes up the men’s draw, where he was positioned in the top half and was set to potentially challenge the top-ranked player, Jannik Sinner, in the quarterfinals. Consequently, this departure from the tournament will see Draper’s ATP ranking decline to at least the 7th spot, marking a challenging moment in his young career as he focuses on recovery.
