British tennis star Jack Draper’s 2025 US Open campaign was tragically cut short before the second round, as a recurring and debilitating arm injury forced him to withdraw from the final Grand Slam of the season. Despite a gritty, four-set victory in his opening match—a contest marred by on-court sickness and visible physical discomfort—the discomfort in his left arm proved too significant to continue. The withdrawal of the fifth seed, a semi-finalist from the previous year, dashed hopes of a deep run in New York and brought into sharp focus the precarious balance elite athletes must maintain between pushing for glory and prioritizing long-term health.
A Gritty First-Round Victory Marred By Distress
Jack Draper’s arrival at the 2025 US Open was highly anticipated, particularly after his impressive run to the semi-finals the previous year and a season that saw him climb into the world’s top five. However, his opening match against qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez immediately signaled that the British number one was not at full fitness. Draper, the fifth seed, ultimately prevailed in four tough sets, a testament to his fighting spirit, but the victory was visibly taxing.
During the lengthy match, particularly as it stretched into the third set, Draper was seen vomiting on the court on multiple occasions. While he later attributed the sickness not to a physical injury but to a combination of long-standing gut issues and “nervous tension” from the high-pressure return to competitive play, the physical distress underscored his suboptimal preparation. His serve speeds also dropped significantly throughout the match, a subtle but telling sign of the underlying issues that would soon force his hand.
The Culprit: A Chronic Arm Injury
The true reason for Draper’s premature exit was not the on-court sickness, which he played down, but rather a persistent injury to his left arm. The left-hander had arrived in New York having missed more than seven weeks of competition due to a diagnosis of bone stress and bone bruising in his left humerus. The lay-off meant he had not played a singles match since his second-round defeat at Wimbledon, a concerning lack of match fitness for a major tournament.
In the days leading up to the US Open, Draper and his team had been cautious but optimistic, relying on scans that suggested he would not cause further damage by competing. However, the intensity of a five-set Grand Slam match proved too much for the recovering limb. His post-match comments had already revealed he was “toning down” his serve to manage the pain, and ultimately, the discomfort in his arm—particularly when hitting forehands and serving—became too great to responsibly continue.
The Decision To Withdraw
The difficult decision to pull out of the tournament was made by the 23-year-old on Wednesday, just hours ahead of his scheduled second-round match against Belgium’s Zizou Bergs. In a statement posted on social media, Draper expressed his regret, confirming the nature of his injury: “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.”
The withdrawal of the popular star came as a major blow to British tennis fans who had harbored hopes of another semi-final run. His scheduled opponent, Bergs, advanced to the third round via a walkover. The unfortunate development highlighted the high-risk gamble athletes often take when rushing back from serious injuries to compete in the sport’s biggest events, even with the best medical advice.
A Season Hampered By Physical Challenges
Draper’s US Open disappointment represents a challenging pattern in his young career, which has been repeatedly disrupted by injuries and physical ailments. Despite achieving career highs in 2025—including a maiden ATP Masters 1000 title—his Grand Slam season has been inconsistent. His withdrawal in New York follows a shock second-round exit at Wimbledon and a failure to progress beyond the fourth round at the Australian and French Opens.
The British star has a history of physical struggles, including a memorable heat-related collapse during a match earlier in his career. The recurring nature of his health and injury issues suggests a need for a sustained period of rest and recovery to build the physical resilience required for the demanding nature of the ATP Tour. The focus for Draper and his team will now shift entirely to recovering ahead of the remainder of the season, with the goal of securing his long-term health and fulfilling his immense potential in the years to come.
