By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 14, 2026
Photograph credit score: Rob Newell/CameraSport
The North American summer time onerous court docket season looms like a mountain vary for Jack Draper.
The previous world No. 4 concedes the comeback climb is a large mission.
Draper broke down in tears on the changeover throughout his three-set Montreal loss to Terence Atmane.
World No. 143 Draper suffered a gut-wrenching 6-3, 7-5 loss to Martin Landalcue in his Cincinnati Open opener on Thursday.
The left-handed Draper led 5-2 and held six set factors, however dropped 5 video games in a row to fall. Draper, who held a set level serving at 5-2 then held two set factors on Landaluce’s serve at 5-3 and three extra set factors on his personal serve at 5-4, mentioned he’s digging deep however the lack of match play leaves him brief on solutions.
“The way in which I’m often capable of combat for each ball and conduct myself, it’s simply lacking,” Draper informed the media in Cincinnati.
The 2025 Indian Wells champion has been pained by a left arm harm for the final yr. Although Draper reached the Eastbourne semifinals in June, he was compelled to tug out of Wimbledon due to the bone bruise to his left arm and has performed solely two matches since.
Given his rating drop, Draper will seemingly need to play US Open qualifying so as to play the Flushing Meadows main. Draper, who performed US Open Combined Doubles with Jessica Pegula and is partnering her once more this month, mentioned the previous yr of ache makes the comeback climb even harder.
“The extent of my fall virtually from the place I used to be final yr and the quantity of issues that I’m having to alter in my tennis,” Draper mentioned. “The mountain appears very, very massive.”
