Jack Draper has 'very, very big' mountain to climb to get back to the top

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/draper-jack/SWxNhpmK/"]Draper[/a] ‌reached a career-high ranking of ‌four in 2025 but had to ‌cut short the season with a ‌bone injury in his arm and also dealt with a knee injury ‌this year.[/p][p]He returned to action ⁠at the ‌Canadian Open following his withdrawal from Wimbledon ​in June, breaking down in tears during his first-round loss ​to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/atmane-terence/6mkEQ279/"]Terence Atmane[/a].[/p][p]In Cincinnati, Draper led 5-2 in the second set but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/landaluce-martin/AoOnGZEp/"]⁠Landaluce[/a] reeled ​off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/draper-j-SWxNhpmK/landaluce-m-AoOnGZEp/?mid=dbir2a5c"]five consecutive games to win[/a].[/p][p][b]"The way I'm usually able to fight for every ball and conduct ‌myself, it's just missing," [/b]Draper told reporters.[/p][embed guid="2a89a7bc-0e69-41ac-a949-eb5ed94e4db0" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2087951202784776275" social-type="twitter" /][p]Draper is ranked 143rd and his early exits from Montreal and Cincinnati mean he will likely have to come through qualifying at the US Open, where he was a semi-finalist in 2024.[/p][p][b]"The level of ‌my fall almost from where I ​was last year and the ‌amount of things that I'm having to change in my tennis ... The mountain seems very, very big,"[/b] the 24-year-old said.[/p][p]The US Open ⁠begins on ⁠August 30.[/p]