Britain’s top tennis player Jack Draper has withdrawn from the US Open due to a persistent arm injury, crushing hopes of building on his breakthrough semi-final run from last year. The world No5 announced his withdrawal on Wednesday morning ahead of his scheduled second-round match against Belgian Zizou Bergs.
The 23-year-old left-hander, who had battled through a gruelling four-set victory over Argentina’s Federico Agustin Gomez just two days earlier, confirmed the devastating news in a social media post. Hi guys, I’m sorry to say I’ll be withdrawing from the US Open,” Draper wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “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.”
US Open organisers swiftly confirmed the withdrawal, stating: “Jack Draper has withdrawn from the Men’s Singles event with an injury. Zizou Bergs advances to the third round by walkover.”
Eight-Week Battle with Bone Bruising
Draper’s withdrawal marks the culmination of an eight-week struggle with bone stress and bone bruising in his left humerus. The injury first manifested during the clay court season before progressively worsening through the grass court swing.
“I had some bone stress, bone bruising, in my humerus on my left side,” Draper had revealed during his Media Day press conference. “It is one of those where, yeah, if you keep playing with it, it could become very, very serious. So, I had to take some time out.”
The British star admitted he “felt like my arm was shutting down a little bit when I was hitting forehands and on the serve, as well.” Despite playing through pain, Draper competed at Wimbledon where he suffered a disappointing second-round exit to Marin Cilic.
Warning Signs Throughout Monday’s Victory
Following his first-round triumph on Monday, Draper had acknowledged the precarious nature of his participation. “I wasn’t too sure if I was going to make it here this year, but we did a great job with the team since Wimbledon to get myself back on court,” he told the Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd.
During the match, observers noted Draper wore a compression sleeve on his left arm and served at significantly reduced speeds compared to his 2024 semi-final run. The physical toll became evident when he vomited on court during the third set, a concerning echo of similar incidents during last year’s semi-final loss to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
Former world No4 Tim Henman had expressed immediate concerns following Monday’s victory. “That was not easy. There will be questions about his arm,” Henman observed. “You cannot question his fighting spirit and fingers crossed his body and arm will pull up before his second round.”
Expert Reactions: “Not Surprised”
Sky Sports pundit Laura Robson revealed Draper had appeared positive during morning practice sessions on Wednesday. “He was on-site this morning, having a practice, and we saw him earlier and it seemed like it was still quite positive,” Robson explained. “But the practice today, you just know whether it’s going to last in a best of five [set match] or not, and it was just too soon.”
Former world No9 Andrea Petkovic spoke on the BBC, stating she was “not surprised” by Draper’s withdrawal. “The doctor did say he would need eight weeks out, so he did significantly push the envelope here,” she explained. “Adrenaline can do things to your body, you might feel fine for weeks and after a four-set match it can feel aggravated.”
Petkovic added crucial context about the severity of bone injuries: “Bone injuries are difficult to handle, they can always come back if you come back too early. You have to be disciplined and rest bone injuries completely.”
Career Momentum Halted
The withdrawal represents a crushing blow to Draper’s momentum following his most successful season to date. The Sutton native had claimed his maiden Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells in March, defeating Casper Ruud 6-2, 6-2 in the final, and reached the semi-finals at Queen’s Club.
“I didn’t hit any serves for about a month,” Draper had revealed about his recovery process. “Then groundies, I was able to hit after maybe two-and-a-half weeks.”
His cautious return included competing in mixed doubles alongside Jessica Pegula, reaching the semi-finals in the revamped format. However, the intensity of singles competition proved too demanding for the compromised arm.
Impact on British Tennis and Rankings
Draper’s withdrawal leaves British tennis without its highest-ranked player in the men’s singles draw at Flushing Meadows. The No5 seed had been viewed as a genuine contender to challenge the dominance of world No1 Jannik Sinner and No3 Carlos Alcaraz.
His absence guarantees Belgian Zizou Bergs, ranked 48th in the world, passage to the third round where he will face either Canada’s Gabriel Diallo or Spain’s Jaume Munar. For Draper, the focus must now shift to ensuring complete recovery ahead of the Asian swing and indoor season.
Tim Henman, speaking on Sky Sports after the withdrawal was confirmed, captured the sentiment: “Hugely disappointing for Draper. Laura and I actually had breakfast with Jack this morning and he seemed in good spirits. He must have known that things weren’t ideal, but he was going to go out on the practice court and give it a go.”
Henman added: “You understand, playing at this level – best of five sets – it has got to be close to ideal in order to go out there, and his arm is something he’s struggled with for a long time.”
Looking Ahead: Recovery Priority
The timing of Draper’s withdrawal, while disappointing, may prove prudent given the medical warnings about bone injuries. His team had already indicated that continuing to play through the injury risked transforming a manageable condition into something “very, very serious.”
With the US Open marking the final Grand Slam of 2025, Draper will have time to ensure proper healing before the crucial indoor season where he has traditionally excelled. His current ranking inside the world’s top 10 should secure his participation in the prestigious ATP Finals in Turin, provided he recovers fully.
The Lawn Tennis Association issued a brief statement: “Everyone at the LTA wishes him a speedy recovery and we look forward to seeing him back on court and healthy soon.”
For now, British tennis fans must wait to see their No1 return to full fitness, with hopes that this setback proves merely a temporary interruption to what had been shaping up as a career-defining season.
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