Players

Tennis: Jack Draper Struggles with Injury and Mental Fatigue at Cincinnati Open

British tennis player Jack Draper is facing a difficult period in his career due to a long-standing injury and the mental fatigue that comes with it.

The Guardian 19 August 2026 Source: The Guardian

Draper's struggles began to show in the first game of his opening match in Cincinnati, where he shanked a forehand into the back fence and committed two double faults, immediately falling behind a break and never recovering.

A few fleeting positive moments followed, but this miserable start set the tone for another excruciating day for Draper as he fell 6-3, 7-5 to Martín Landaluce, the world No 64.

Draper described his emotions as a reaction to the mental toll of both his injury - bone bruising in his left arm - and the disruptive changes he has made in order to lessen the strain on it. He said: "It's the same as last week, the way I'm usually able to fight for every ball and conduct myself, it's just missing."

Since Wimbledon, Draper has changed his strings, his racket and he continues to adjust to his service motion. These changes have all been made in service of reducing the strain on his arm and at the expense of optimising his performance.

Draper's injury is not a case of resting for some time and coming back. He said: "I think that's the toughest part. It's like there are no right answers. You have to figure it out. A lot of it's probably, I found out in the end, biomechanics and changing rackets."

The uncertainty surrounding the condition of his arm remains the defining problem. Draper described the chronic pain as "always with you" and said that the injury has affected his entire arm, making it difficult to play tennis.

There is more uncertainty on the horizon. Since he is ranked No 143 and does not have a protected ranking, Draper has been reliant on wildcards to enter ATP events. He does not expect to receive a wildcard for the US Open, meaning he will have to play in the qualifying draw in order to compete in New York.

## Cameron Norrie Advances to Second Round

Cameron Norrie, the British No 2, set up an intriguing second-round match against the top seed, Alexander Zverev, after he recovered from a set down to defeat Dino Prizmic 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Norrie has begun to find his form during the hard court swing after a rib injury hurt his momentum during the clay and grass court seasons. His meeting on Saturday with the French Open champion will provide him with a clear measure of his level.

## Injury and Fatigue Take a Toll on Draper

Draper's struggles with his injury and mental fatigue are a stark contrast to his former self, where he was a world No 4. He said: "The level of my fall almost from where I was last year and the amount of things that I'm having to change in my tennis. Yeah, the mountain seems very, very big."

Draper's injury and mental fatigue have taken a toll on his confidence and self-belief, making it difficult for him to perform at his best. He is facing a difficult period in his career, but he remains determined to find a solution to his problems.