British tennis player Jack Draper has opened up about the emotional toll of his recent injury struggles, following a tearful exit from the Canadian Open just over a week ago. The former world No 4 was visibly distressed during his first-round match against Térence Atmane, spending a changeover in tears.
Draper, 24, explained that the emotional outburst stemmed from 15 months of pent-up feelings and the ongoing challenge of recovering from a bone bruise injury to his left arm. He described the past year as the most difficult period of his career, with efforts to compete consistently at the highest level proving unsuccessful.
Despite the setback, Draper expressed optimism, stating, "When you reach rock bottom like that you can come back up again." He has made significant changes to his equipment, including returning to a hybrid gut string setup and using a different, more flexible racket, in an attempt to reduce strain on his arm. Draper is set to compete in the Cincinnati Open as a wildcard recipient, with a first-round match against Martín Landaluce scheduled for Thursday.