Overview
- Tournament officials confirmed on Monday that Draper pulled out of the Mubadala DC Open with a left‑arm problem and will be replaced in the draw by lucky loser Mackenzie McDonald.
- Reports describe the issue as long‑running bone bruising to his serving arm, a bruised humerus that has troubled him for more than a year and limited him to only about a dozen to fourteen matches in the past 12 months.
- Draper had been practicing and said he was feeling physically good while working with coach Sir Andy Murray, but increased soreness forced the late withdrawal.
- The former world No. 4 has dropped to No. 147 in the ATP rankings, which means he would likely need wildcards or to play qualifying to enter the Canadian Open, Cincinnati and the US Open unless tournament organisers intervene.
- Draper posted an emotional Instagram message about ‘adversity and setbacks,’ and the pattern of optimistic returns followed by last‑minute pulls is now affecting tournament draws and raising questions about his short‑term career path.