Jack Draper’s long-awaited return to competitive tennis ended in an emotional first-round defeat at the Canadian Open, with the British star breaking down in tears as his latest injury setback appeared to take its toll.
The 24-year-old was playing his first match since June after a persistent arm injury kept him sidelined for much of the season. Draper showed flashes of his best form against France’s Terence Atmane but eventually lost 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in Montreal.
Draper entered the tournament with a wildcard after his injury problems caused his world ranking to fall dramatically. The Briton was ranked as high as fourth in the world last June, but dropped as low as 160th over the following 12 months.
His latest injury troubles began after he hurt his shoulder at last year's US Open. Bone bruising then complicated his recovery, forcing him to withdraw from planned comebacks at Wimbledon and the Washington Open.
Despite those setbacks, Draper finally made his return in Montreal.
He looked understandably nervous at the start and was without the compression sleeve he had used during recent appearances. However, he gradually settled into the contest and began producing glimpses of the form that took him into the world's top four.
After losing the opening set 6-3, Draper raised his level in the second. He produced several powerful forehands and moved more confidently around the court, taking control to win the set 6-2 and force a decider.
But the momentum quickly disappeared in the third set.
Draper surrendered the opening game despite leading 40-15 before struggling to maintain his intensity. He then missed an opportunity to break Atmane with a tired forehand into the net.
After being broken again to trail 4-1, Draper sat down during the changeover and was visibly overcome with emotion as he wiped tears from his eyes.
Atmane held his nerve to serve out the match and advance to the second round, where he will face Russia's Karen Khachanov.
For Draper, the defeat leaves further questions over his fitness and his plans for the rest of the hard-court swing. He has received a wildcard for next week's Cincinnati Open, but his participation is now uncertain.
More importantly, the setback comes just weeks before the US Open begins on August 23. After reaching the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows in 2024, Draper will now be desperate to regain his fitness before returning to New York.
Elsewhere, Britain's Jacob Fearnley enjoyed a more positive start in Montreal. The British number five defeated France's Adrian Mannarino 7-6, 6-4 to reach the second round, where he will face Czech rising star Jakub Mensik.
