‘I need to look after myself’ – Draper out of US Open with arm injury

US Open 2025

Dates: August 24 through September 7 in Flushing Meadows, New York

Due to an arm injury, British No. 1 Jack Draper has withdrawn from the US Open.

The fifth seed, who had reached the semi-finals last year, was thought to be one of the title contenders at Flushing Meadows, but the injury prevented him from getting ready.

Federico Agustin Gomez, 23, defeated the Argentine qualifier in four difficult sets on Tuesday to advance to the first-round.

On Thursday, he was scheduled to face Belgium’s Zizou Bergs.

In a statement on X, Draper wrote that “I tried my very best to be here and give myself the every chance to play,” adding that the pain in my arm has grown too great.

He claimed the issue “progressively worsened” over the grass-court season after beginning to feel it during the clay-court swing in April.

Draper left key tournaments in Canada and Cincinnati to resurrect after missing a game since his second-round defeat at Wimbledon in early July. He then retreated to New York.

The Englishman wore a sleeve to his injured arm during his first-round match, which he shared with Jessica Pegula last week in the US Open mixed doubles competition.

Draper began his practice in New York on Wednesday morning, but he later admitted he would not play any more of the tournament.

Andrea Petkovic, the former world number nine, stated on Radio 5 Live that she was “not surprised” by Draper’s departure.

You might feel fine for weeks, but adrenaline can make your body feel aggravated, she said.

Jonathan Jurejko, a senior tennis reporter for BBC Sport in New York, is a senior correspondent.

During his time in New York, it was difficult to determine how serious Draper’s arm injury was.

He asserted at first that he was ready to go and wouldn’t be holding back in his first-round game and that he was optimistic about his recovery.

However, there are indications that he may have been letting things get worse.

During the match against Gomez, Draper relied on precision and patience rather than power to hit the ball full speed.

Draper, who has a reputation as an open and honest talker, addressed a press conference on Monday about the setbacks he had faced during his recovery, but said he was confident there would be no more harm.

What, then, has changed in the last 48 hours?

After his opening game win, we are aware that he practiced at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday and also hit on Wednesday morning, seemingly “testing out his playing arm” by leathering some forehands.

His position will be affected by this difficult choice. When his points from the run to the semi-finals last year are eliminated, he is likely to fall out of the top 10.