Jack Draper returned to the US Open spotlight on August 26, 2025, stepping onto the famous Louis Armstrong Stadium for a highly anticipated first-round clash against Argentina’s Federico Agustin Gomez. The British number one, ranked fifth in the world, was making his singles comeback after an arm injury that had sidelined him since Wimbledon in early July. With expectations high and questions swirling about his match fitness, Draper faced a real test—one that demanded grit, patience, and a bit of humility.
For Draper, the road back to Flushing Meadows was anything but straightforward. After sustaining a bruised humerus in his left arm during a third-round defeat at Wimbledon, he skipped the North American hardcourt swing, including the ATP 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati, to focus on recovery. He did, however, dip his toes back into competition with a stint in the revamped US Open mixed doubles event, hoping to regain at least a modicum of sharpness before his singles return.
His opponent, Federico Agustin Gomez, had already logged considerable time on the courts of New York. Ranked 203rd in the world, the Argentine had battled through three qualifiers to earn his spot in the main draw—just his second appearance at this level, after debuting at the French Open earlier in the year. Gomez’s recent match play and underdog status made him a dangerous first hurdle for a returning Draper.
As the match got underway, all eyes were glued to Draper’s upper left arm. He wore a compression sleeve for support, and while he insisted before the match that he wasn’t holding back, the radar told a different story. Draper’s serve averaged 111 mph in the first set and dipped slightly in the following frames—108 mph, 110 mph, and 106 mph—reflecting a cautious approach to protect his injury. "I've definitely had to rein in my serve a little bit to keep the pain down," Draper later admitted. "At the same time, though, I feel like my accuracy is almost a bit better."
Despite the adjustments, Draper’s class shone through in the opening exchanges. He took the first set 6-4, using his trademark left-handed power and baseline consistency to keep Gomez on the defensive. Gomez, however, wasn’t going to go quietly. The Argentine’s explosive forehand and recent match sharpness allowed him to hang tough, especially in the second set. Draper’s precision kick serve, a crucial weapon, kept him from being broken until late in the set, but he managed to edge it 7-5.
Yet, the match was far from a formality. In the third set, Gomez’s resilience paid dividends. The Argentine saved a match point in the tie-break, ultimately clinching the set 7-6 (9-7) and extending the contest. Draper, for his part, saw the silver lining in the challenge. "I needed tennis in my legs. I needed to play a three-hour match," he reflected after the win. "I was almost a bit happy when I lost the third because my level wasn't amazing. Then I felt like towards the end of the fourth I started to get better and better."
That fourth set showcased the Draper that fans and pundits have come to expect. He found his rhythm, mixing flatter, more aggressive forehand hitting with improved movement and sharper anticipation. The result: a dominant 6-2 finish that sealed his passage to the second round, where he’ll face Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, another powerful and fearless opponent.
For Gomez, the loss was bittersweet. He’d proven he could stand toe-to-toe with a top-five player on one of tennis’s biggest stages, even saving a match point and forcing Draper to dig deep. His run through qualifying and his performance in the main draw will surely boost his confidence for the rest of the season.
Draper’s victory was more than just another notch in the win column. It was a statement of resilience and adaptability. The Brit had not played a singles match in nearly eight weeks, and the rust was evident at times—especially in the third set, when some less-than-accurate hitting opened the door for Gomez. Still, Draper’s ability to regroup and raise his level when it mattered most bodes well for his campaign in New York.
Reflecting on his journey back to competition, Draper was candid about his doubts and relief: "I wasn't too sure if I was going to make it here. I'm not putting too much expectation on myself. I'm so happy to be able to compete." That humility, paired with his undeniable talent, has made Draper a fan favorite and a genuine contender for the title, especially given his breakout run to the semifinals at the US Open just a year ago—where he didn’t drop a single set until the final four.
Meanwhile, fellow Brit Cameron Norrie also advanced to the second round, albeit under very different circumstances. Norrie was leading American Sebastian Korda 7-5, 6-4 when Korda, still recovering from a lengthy shin injury and now hampered by abdominal trouble, retired from the match. Norrie admitted to pre-match nerves, saying, "Playing a Grand Slam match at 11am and trying to get rice down at 10am is not easy!" He’ll now face Argentina’s Francisco Comesana in the next round.
As the US Open unfolds, Draper’s story is one of both promise and caution. His powerful left-handed game, relentless baseline play, and improving fitness make him a player to watch. But the lingering effects of his arm injury and the rust from his layoff are factors he—and his fans—cannot ignore. If his first-round performance is any indication, though, Draper is more than ready to embrace the grind of Grand Slam tennis once again.
With his opening hurdle cleared and his confidence on the rise, Draper now turns his attention to the challenges ahead. The road to a maiden Grand Slam title remains long and unpredictable, but for the British number one, simply being back on court in New York is already a victory worth savoring.
