Overview
- Draper broke down in tears during a changeover in his first‑round loss at the Canadian Open this week and later told reporters he had "hit rock bottom."
- He has battled a left‑arm bone bruise since 2025 and flare‑ups of knee tendonitis that returned in April, problems players say have reduced his serve speed and power.
- The injuries limited him to roughly six events in 2026, pushed him from world No. 4 to about No. 143, and made him ineligible for a protected ranking.
- To protect his arm Draper has changed to a hybrid gut string and a more flexible racket frame and added serve specialist Carlos Cano to his coaching team, while relying on high‑value wildcards for events.
- After back‑to‑back early exits in Montreal and Cincinnati his participation in the US Open singles and the mixed doubles with Jessica Pegula is uncertain and commentators say he faces a choice between more rest or further medical and technical interventions.