Draper will play Cincinnati Open despite arm injury fears

Jack Draper confirmed for Cincinnati Open despite being left in tears following defeat at the National Bank Open in Montreal Jack Draper confirmed for Cincinnati Open despite arm injury fears at National Bank Open in Montreal; watch the ATP and WTA Tours and US Open from August 30 live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app Friday 7 August 2026 14:43, UK Jack Draper has been confirmed for next week's Cincinnati Open despite being left in a flood of tears following defeat at the National Bank Open in Montreal. Draper's hopes of playing in the US Open had looked to be in doubt after his latest comeback attempt saw him break down in tears mid-match. The 24-year-old was playing his first match since June in Canada having suffered a recurrence of the bone bruising that kept him out for almost seven months. - Latest tennis scores and results 🎾 - Download Sky Sports app for analysis, news and video 📺 - Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract 📱 Draper looked in discomfort, with his serve badly affected against France's Terence Atmane. After being broken to trail 4-1 in the third set, Draper sat on his chair and sobbed, eventually losing 6-3 2-6 6-2. "This is pretty emotional actually. He's been bent over and just literally erupting with emotion here. Very, very upsetting to see. It just happened at the change of ends, he leaned forward," former British No 1 Annabel Croft told viewers on Sky Sports. Croft added: "He knows what's going on inside his body, and he knows the work he's done to try and get back on court." The Brit has been given a wild card for the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati beginning next week - live on Sky Sports Tennis, while the US Open - for which he would also need a wild card into the main draw - starts on August 30. Mixed doubles at US Open Draper is due to play in the mixed doubles at Flushing Meadows the preceding week with Jessica Pegula, and the American admitted their participation is now in doubt. Speaking to reporters in Canada, Pegula said: "I know that he's been really struggling a bit with some injuries and I saw today he had a really tough day with his match. "We're supposed to play. Obviously I know he's not healthy, so we'll see how that goes." Pegula and Draper reached the semi-finals last year, and she added: "I've always since then been a very big fan, and it's been fun to watch him. He's a really nice kid, so I enjoy playing with him. "Hoping that he can just get healthy and we can see him back out there." Draper's injury woes If Draper is unable to play in New York, it would be a fourth consecutive Grand Slam that he has missed through injury. Draper's problems first surfaced after a second-round exit at Wimbledon last year, with the former US Open semi-finalist forced off the tour with a bone bruise in his left arm. He tried to make a comeback at Flushing Meadows but pulled out ahead of his second-round match and did not play again until February. After initial positive signs, including victory over Novak Djokovic in Indian Wells, a changed service motion to try to help his arm problem led to a knee injury that kept him out for another lengthy spell. Returning just ahead of Wimbledon in Eastbourne, Draper looked strong and reached the semi-finals only to announce on the eve of his home Grand Slam that his arm had flared up again and he would be unable to play. Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Montreal, Draper said: "It's important for people to recognise that the injury I have is very complex, it's very complicated, and everyone around me is doing everything we can to help this keep moving along. "It really has been a perfect storm for me in a lot of ways. When I do get out of this storm, I'm going to be pushing on to hopefully get to where I want to be and beyond." Watch the ATP and WTA Tours and US Open from August 30, live on Sky Sports or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.