Jack Draper wiped tears from his eyes during a change of ends at the Canadian Open in Montreal, visibly overwhelmed after being broken for 4-1 in the third set of his first-round match against France's Terence Atmane.

The British left-hander went on to lose the match, with Atmane serving out to advance to a second-round meeting with Russia's Karen Khachanov. Atmane took the first set 6-3 before Draper responded to take the second 6-2. The third set belonged to the Frenchman, and with it went Draper's return to competitive tennis (BBC Sport).

Draper had not played a match since reaching the Eastbourne semi-finals in June (ATP Tour). He withdrew from a tournament on the eve of its start because of his arm injury and, just days before the Montreal event, told reporters he was "feeling physically good" despite the ongoing problem (Yahoo Sports). He also withdrew from the start of his 2026 season in Australia, announcing on social media in December that his arm would not allow him to compete (ATP Tour).

The root of the trouble is bone bruising in his serving arm that has hampered him for more than a year (Yahoo Sports). Draper said in June that tournaments will suffer if the men's game does not address its high rate of injuries (Reuters). In Montreal, he appeared nervous at the start and did not wear the compression sleeve that had supported him through recent appearances — a small detail that drew attention given the arm's history (BBC Sport).

Draper is a 2024 US Open semi-finalist who climbed to a career-high world number four in June 2025. The US Open begins on 23 August, and the emotional scene in Montreal has cast doubt on whether he will be ready. He also holds a wildcard entry — an invitation into the main draw — for next week's Cincinnati Open, but his participation there is now uncertain too (BBC Sport).

The tournament itself has already lost its two biggest names. Jannik Sinner, the world number one, and Novak Djokovic both withdrew from Montreal before play began (ATP Tour).

There was better news elsewhere for British fans. Jacob Fearnley, ranked fifth in Britain, beat France's Adrian Mannarino 7-6 6-4 to set up a second-round tie against Czech teenager Jakub Mensik (BBC Sport).

For Draper, the concern is not the ranking points or a single early exit. It is the image of a 24-year-old sitting on his chair, head in his towel, fighting back tears with the final Grand Slam of the year three weeks away. The arm has bothered him for over a year. The calendar is not waiting.