​Jack Draper looks set to return to action this month, offering further bright news for British tennis after his Wimbledon campaign was abruptly halted by an injury setback. Draper pulled out of Wimbledon due to a renewed bout of bone bruising in his left arm, an injury that capped a disastrous opening day for British players, with all 10 Brits in action on the opening day losing their matches.
Meanwhile, Britain has reason to cheer another remarkable achievement in Arthur Fery, who has progressed to a surprising Wimbledon semi-final and captured headlines as a standout British success story. Draper, for his part, has been named a wild card entrant for the DC Open in Washington, which is scheduled to begin on 27 July. The latest injury represented a major blow for the 24-year-old, who has managed only a fragment of competitive action since stepping away from the tour last year to recover from the arm issue. After a limited return at the US Open, Draper did not come back to full fitness until February, only to be sidelined again by knee and shoulder problems. He then managed just one grass-court appearance at Eastbourne before the latest setback.
There were genuine fears that Draper might face a lengthy spell on the sidelines once more, but the expectation from his team is that his absence will be confined to a short hiatus, with a return to the court in Washington on the cards. His representatives have confirmed that this is the plan, aiming for a swift comeback rather than a prolonged layoff.
Washington serves as the opening event of the North American hard-court swing, followed by Masters tournaments in Canada and Cincinnati as players prepare for the US Open at the end of August. The Washington field is unusually strong, featuring five players who have ranked among the world’s top 10, including Felix Auger-Aliassime, Ben Shelton, Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, and Daniil Medvedev. Draper’s inclusion as a wild card signals the British team’s continued aggression in chasing form and confidence ahead of the late-summer Grand Slam.
In this context, Draper will be looking to pick up momentum quickly, hoping to treat Washington as a platform to rebuild and push for a sustained return to the tour. If he can make a confident start and stay fit through the hard-court swing, he could deliver a timely boost to Britain’s prospects as the season moves toward its key summer events. With Fery’s surprising Wimbledon run providing a counterpoint to Draper’s injury troubles, British tennis continues to demonstrate depth and resilience, even as players navigate the physical demands and uncertainties of a demanding tour schedule.