Overview
- On Thursday Draper lost in the first round of the Cincinnati Open to Martin Landaluce 6-3, 7-5 after leading 5-2 and failing to convert six set points, finishing the match with 47 unforced errors and 12 double faults.
- The defeat followed an emotional, tearful first-round loss to Terence Atmane at the Canadian Open that Draper has called hitting “rock bottom,” and he says the fighting intensity that defined his peak is currently missing.
- Medical reports and experts say Draper has a persistent bone bruise in his left humerus together with knee tendonitis, a combination that heals slowly, cannot be fixed surgically, and risks progressing to a stress fracture if overloaded.
- In response Draper has changed racket and stringing, enlisted biomechanics specialist Carlos Cano to rework his serve, and is experimenting with load and technique adjustments while admitting the gear feels uncomfortable.
- Those setbacks have pushed him down to about world No. 143, left his US Open main-draw place uncertain with mixed-doubles plans with Jessica Pegula in doubt, and prompted calls for quantified load management or an extended rest to protect his career.