Jack Draper, Britain’s current number one in men’s tennis, is stepping onto the hard courts of New York with a mixture of optimism and caution as the 2025 US Open looms. Draper, just 23 years old, has revealed that while he’s eager to make a deep run at Flushing Meadows, a lingering arm injury continues to cast a shadow over his preparations. The British star, who thrilled fans with a semi-final appearance in New York last year, has been out of singles action since his second-round loss to Marin Cilic at Wimbledon more than seven weeks ago.
Speaking candidly ahead of his opening match against Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez on Monday, Draper provided fresh insight into the injury that’s kept him sidelined for much of the summer. “It was something I was playing through for a while,” Draper explained on August 23, 2025. “I started feeling it in the clay season. I felt like my arm was shutting down a little bit when I was hitting forehands and on the serve. It got progressively worse, then on the grass it got quite painful.”
The diagnosis? Bone stress and bone bruising in his left humerus—a serious concern for any tennis player, let alone one at the top of his game. “It is one of those where if you keep playing with it, it could become very, very serious. So I had to take some time out,” Draper admitted. After Wimbledon, he made the tough decision to rest, forgoing groundstrokes for two weeks and serves for a full month. That meant missing the Masters 1000 events in Canada and Cincinnati, tournaments that typically help players fine-tune their games ahead of the final Grand Slam of the season.
Despite the setback, Draper refused to pin his Wimbledon defeat on the injury. He was quick to clarify, “It’s not something which I’m going to go out on Monday and feel like it’s holding me back at all.” Still, the timing of his return has raised questions: can he regain the form that saw him win his first Masters title at Indian Wells back in March and dominate the tour earlier in the year?
“I have been training a lot the last month or so, physically really pushed myself hard, and that makes me feel mentally really good about myself,” Draper shared. “I’m just really excited to be back here at the US Open and back competing, doing what I like doing best.” His words radiate the hunger and determination that have defined his rise through the rankings.
Yet, Draper doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the challenge ahead. “It’s an injury which takes time to heal. It might be giving me some discomfort, that’s for sure, but I’m going to go out on Monday and feel like it’s holding me back at all.” The arm may not be at 100 percent, but the British number one is adamant he won’t let it dictate his fate in New York.
His early draw offers a glimmer of hope. Facing a qualifier in the first round, Draper has the chance to play his way into the tournament, shaking off any rust that may have accumulated during his enforced break. But lurking in the quarter-finals could be Jannik Sinner, the defending champion and Draper’s friend, who dashed his hopes in last year’s semi-final. The Brit is well aware of the mountain ahead. “Their level is definitely above the rest of us right now,” Draper said, referring to Sinner and fellow young star Carlos Alcaraz. “I’m very happy for them because they’re both amazing guys, I know them well. But I don’t want to feel like we’re just letting them do it. I want to keep on going after them, keep on improving, and hopefully soon I’ll be competing with them.”
Notably, Draper’s return to Flushing Meadows hasn’t been entirely without competitive action. In the week leading up to the singles tournament, he paired with American Jessica Pegula in the revamped mixed doubles event, reaching the semi-finals. Draper believes this stint was more than just a warm-up. “It was kind of perfect for me because I hadn’t had any competition, I hadn’t felt that feeling of playing in front of people and that sort of stuff for a little while. I think it was a really positive experience for myself, and I definitely feel a lot sharper having played that as opposed to maybe having a training week.”
That sharpness could prove crucial as Draper navigates the early rounds and tests the resilience of his left arm under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The British star’s candidness about his injury and his efforts to manage it have drawn sympathy and encouragement from fans and pundits alike. But in the cutthroat world of professional tennis, sympathy only goes so far—results are what matter, especially at a Grand Slam.
For Draper, the US Open has historically been a happy hunting ground. His run to the semi-finals last year marked a breakthrough on the big stage, and he’s keen to build on that momentum. The hard courts suit his aggressive baseline game and powerful serve, but the question remains: can he withstand the rigors of best-of-five-set matches with an arm that’s still on the mend?
He’s done everything in his power to prepare, balancing rest with intense physical training. “Saying that, it was not so bad, because I could obviously do a lot of other things physically. It wasn’t like I had to stop completely. Tough injury to have, but definitely one where I had to look after it,” Draper reflected. That pragmatic approach may well be his best weapon as he eyes another deep run in New York.
As the tournament gets underway, Draper’s story is one of resilience, hope, and unfinished business. He’s not just playing for a place in the next round—he’s playing to prove to himself and the tennis world that he belongs in the conversation with the likes of Sinner and Alcaraz. The British number one’s journey at the US Open is set to be a compelling subplot in a Grand Slam already brimming with intrigue.
With the first serve just hours away, all eyes will be on Jack Draper as he takes the court against Federico Agustin Gomez. Will the arm hold up? Can he recapture the blistering form that made him a Masters champion earlier this year? The tennis world is watching, and Draper, injury and all, is ready to answer the call.
