Britain's Jack Draper to Miss Remainder of Season with Arm Injury

Jack Draper, Britain’s leading male tennis player, will miss the rest of the season after an arm injury that forced his withdrawal from the US Open.

The 23-year-old, ranked seventh in the world, pulled out before his scheduled second-round match in New York after defeating Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez in the opening round. Draper flew home following the withdrawal and announced on social media that he must rest and sit out the remainder of the year.

"It is very difficult for me to accept as I was building some incredible momentum this year and playing some great stuff," Draper wrote on his social channels. "However, I've been through this before and I always come back stronger as I'm so motivated to fulfil my potential as a player."

Draper had not played singles since Wimbledon because of bruising on his upper left serving arm. A scan taken after his defeat by Marin Cilic at Wimbledon indicated progress, and his team had been confident that he had recovered sufficiently to compete in New York. After feeling discomfort during the clay-court season in the spring that affected his forehand and serve, medical advice had required him to avoid serves for a month and groundstrokes for about two and a half weeks.

The decision to end his season means Draper will be unable to achieve one of his principal goals for 2025: qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin in November. He was in a strong position earlier in the year, having won his first ATP Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells in March and finishing runner-up in Madrid in May. The enforced layoff also makes it likely he will drop out of the world top 10 by the end of the season.

Draper acknowledged during the US Open that the injury could be serious and that managing his serving technique might help reduce strain. After his first-round win in New York he told BBC Sport that sometimes "almost reining it in is not a bad thing," noting that effective serving relies on placement and variation as much as raw speed.

Physical issues have interrupted Draper’s progress before. He missed two and a half months in the summer of 2023 with a shoulder injury and had a hip problem last December that affected his preparations for the current campaign. Draper’s game is built on powerful forehand and serve, and he has said he places heavy force through his body while competing.

By announcing a prolonged break, Draper will be without competitive match play for at least four months. His team and medical advisers have framed the rest period as necessary to allow recovery and to protect his long-term prospects on tour. The ATP will update rankings and entries as the season progresses.

Draper’s withdrawal from the US Open and the season-ending hiatus conclude a year that showcased his highest achievements on tour alongside persistent injury management. He joins a list of top players who have faced midseason interruptions for medical reasons, underscoring the physical demands of the ATP schedule and the challenges younger players face sustaining form and fitness across a packed calendar.