Former British number one Jack Draper pulls out of yet another tournament due to the persistent arm injury that continues to bother him, Yankee Scores reports.
The left-handed Draper, who is now 24 years old, pulls out of the ATP Tour match in Washington, which was going to be his first since pulling out of Wimbledon earlier this month.
According to BBC Sport, bone bruising in his serving arm has plagued the young tennis player for over a year now, although he stated at the weekend that he was “feeling physically good” ahead of the Mubadala DC Open.
However, after showing some promise in training under the guidance of his new coach Andy Murray, he had to pull out of the ATP 500 tournament on Monday because he was experiencing more pain in his problematic arm.
It has been another frustrating experience for the tennis player, with a similar scenario having played out at the All-England Club, where he had expressed his positive physical condition before pulling out 24 hours before his first-round match.
“These last months have felt like nothing but adversity and setbacks,” Draper wrote on Instagram shortly after his withdrawal was announced.
“Most days I’ve spent in doubt, yet hopeful that I can keep taking positive steps forward and finding ways to progress.
“Being patient with the process has been my biggest challenge, but I know I’m getting closer to where I want to be.”
Despite the setback, Draper hopes that he will have the chance to play in Montreal and Cincinnati prior to the US Open where he made it all the way to the semis last year, which begins its action from 30th August.
But one thing for sure is that this is definitely yet another cause for worry – more like a recurring trend in an injury described by Draper himself as “complicated”. The former world number four has been able to play just 14 matches in the last year due to the bruised humerus.
“It’s hard to tell when you can push [and] when not to push,” Draper said at Wimbledon.
“At the end of the day I’m playing a very aggressive sport, that you need to play through some stuff. Sometimes it’s too much. Sometimes it’s not.
“I wouldn’t be competing anywhere if there was a chance that I’m going to get a lot worse, for instance.”
