Return After Months of Hell Ends in Tears
Jack Draper, plagued by a left arm injury, couldn't handle the pressure and broke down in tears before a full crowd during his first-round loss at the ATP Masters.
Jack Draper, plagued by a left arm injury, couldn't handle the pressure and broke down in tears before a full crowd during his first-round loss at the ATP Masters.
British tennis player Jack Draper suffered an emotional breakdown at the ATP Masters in Montreal. In his first appearance after a months-long hiatus, he was defeated by France's Terence Atmane, but the scoreline was overshadowed by a heartbreaking scene where Draper sobbed inconsolably on the bench during the third set.
The match was marked by dramatic swings and visible pain for the British player. Draper started poorly but fought back in the second set, only to see his game completely collapse in the decider. His serve weakened, and his groundstrokes lost their power, raising suspicions that the left arm injury that had already forced him to miss Roland Garros and Wimbledon had flared up again.
The pivotal moment came with Atmane leading 4-1 in the third set. After losing his serve for the second time, Draper sat down on the bench, covered his face with a towel, and burst into tears. Cameras captured him wiping away tears, utterly devastated by yet another health setback. According to British media reports, the pain in his left arm had resurfaced, and his serve speed had dropped dramatically.
Sources differ on the exact set scores. Kurir.rs reports that Atmane won 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, while Tportal lists the score as 3-6, 6-2, 2-6. Regardless of the numbers, the outcome was the same-the Frenchman advanced, and Draper endured another nightmare.
Draper has played just six tournaments this season. Over the past few months, a bone bruise on his left arm has been troubling him, preventing him from maintaining any consistency. He has previously admitted that he hasn't managed to play two consecutive weeks without health issues for months.
In May of this year, he began working with his celebrated compatriot Andy Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion who joined his coaching team. Montreal, however, was only his second tournament since Murray came on board.
Following the loss in Canada, questions arise as to whether Draper will be ready for the next Masters event in Cincinnati and then the season's final Grand Slam, the US Open. The scene in Montreal clearly showed how tough the life of a professional athlete is when the body can't keep up with the immense desire to return to the top.
