Jack Draper Withdraws from US Open Due to Injury
British tennis player Jack Draper, ranked number 5, withdraws from the US Open due to a persistent injury in his left arm. Draper, who reached the semifinals at Flushing Meadows last year, did not participate in any event between Wimbledon and his arrival in New York. The pain in his arm manifested during the clay court season. The diagnosis revealed a contusion in the humerus, the bone that extends from the shoulder to the elbow.This is the first time a top-five seeded male player has retired during the US Open in the Open Era (since 1968). With Draper’s withdrawal, Belgian Zizou Bergs advances to the third round by walkover. After his first-round victory on Monday against the ranked Federico Agustin Gomez, Draper indicated that he was competing ahead of schedule, having tested himself last week in the mixed doubles tournament, where he played with American Jessica Pegula. Draper told reporters on Tuesday: “With the injury I had to my arm, the return to competition is probably about eight weeks; I’m here in seven weeks, so I’m early. There are days when you’re really excited because you think you’re on a good path, and then there are days when you have setbacks and you think, oh, I may not be able to do it. “There have been many of those days, but at the same time, I think that as I’ve gotten closer to the tournament, my team and I have had more scans, we’re confident that I’m not causing more damage to my arm, and I’m in a place where I can go out and compete. It’s not going to hold me back, so that’s very positive.” Draper was positioned at the top of the draw and could have faced number 1, Jannik Sinner, in the quarterfinals. As a result of his drop, Draper’s ranking will fall to at least number 7.I am sorry to announce my withdrawal from the US Open. I did everything I could to be here and give myself the chance to play, but the discomfort in my arm has become excessive and I must prioritize my health.
Jack Draper
