Draper Back in US Open Singles After Seven-Week Bone Bruising Layoff

Jack Draper returned to singles at the US Open on Monday after a seven-week layoff caused by bone bruising in his left humerus, a setback that forced him to skip the Canadian Open and Cincinnati. The British No. 1, ranked world No. 5 and seeded fifth, opened his campaign against Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez on Louis Armstrong Stadium. In a match that tested his endurance as much as his fitness, Draper came through in four sets, 64 75 67 62, signaling both relief at being back on court and a recognition that he must manage an ongoing issue if he is to sustain a deep run in New York.

The injury timeline explained much of Draper’s summer. He disclosed that the problem began during the clay-court season, with his arm “shutting down a little bit” while hitting forehands and serving. The issue worsened through the grass-court swing, and after Wimbledon he underwent tests that confirmed bone stress and bruising in the left arm. Medical guidance was clear: continuing to play risked a more serious problem, so he elected to pause competitive action while focusing on recovery. Draper stressed that the injury “takes time to heal” and that a bone can heal, but the discomfort...