Jack Draper withdraws from US Open through injury ahead of second-round match with Zizou Bergs - 'Discomfort has become too much'
Updated 27/08/2025 at 19:14 GMT+1
Jack Draper has withdrawn from the US Open ahead of his second-round clash with Zizou Bergs through injury. The British men's No. 1 defeated Federico Gomez in four sets on Monday but has been forced to bow out. He arrived in New York following an arm injury that had kept him out for more than seven weeks and wore a sleeve in his opening-round match at Flushing Meadows.
Highlights: Draper overcomes Gomez in four sets as Keys downs Zarazua
Video credit: SNTV
British No. 1 Jack Draper has withdrawn from the US Open with an injury.
The 23-year-old defeated Federico Gomez on Monday to reach the second round, but was forced to withdraw ahead of his tie with Zizou Bergs.
The Belgian will therefore advance by walkover in an unfortunate end to the fifth seed's tournament.
"Hi guys, I’m sorry to say I’ll be withdrawing from the US Open," Draper wrote on X.
"I tried my very best to be here and give myself every chance to play, but the discomfort in my arm has become too much and I have to do what is right and look after myself. Thank you for all the support."
Draper last played competitively at Wimbledon, losing unexpectedly in the second round to Marin Cilic. He was subsequently diagnosed with bone bruising in his arm, and arrived in New York having not played a single warm up tournament.
After his first round win, Draper said he was "proud" of the fact he had made it to the US Open, before adding that he was "in a place to go out and compete".
But the expected recovery time for his injury was eight weeks - and he had just seven before arriving at Flushing Meadows.
"Obviously we'll go day by day and see how it is," Draper added after that opening win, at the time sounding optimistic despite admitting he could not serve at 100%.
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But having played on Monday and had a day off, Draper could not recover in time to take to the court for his second round match.
It is not the first time this season - or indeed his career - that Draper has battled injury.
A hip issue derailed his off-season, and he was not able to play any warm-up events before the Australian Open in January, before miraculously winning three rounds - all in five sets.
He was eventually forced to retire in the fourth round against Carlos Alcaraz, before revealing he was suffering from tendinitis.
But after taking a few weeks off to recover, Draper came back strongly, reaching the final in Doha before picking up his biggest title to date in Indian Wells.
Having made the semi-finals in New York last season, Draper’s early exit means he has not made it past the fourth round of a Slam this season.
Cameron Norrie and Jacob Fearnley are the remaining British hopes in the men's singles following Draper's withdrawal.
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