Jack Draper Wins US Open First Round Despite Left-Arm Injury

Jack Draper, world No. 5 and fifth seed at the US Open, overcame Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez in a hard-fought four-set match despite recovering from a bone bruise in his left humerus. Having not played singles since a second-round loss at Wimbledon due to the injury, Draper revealed he had to temper his serve to manage pain but is confident he is not holding back and feels ready to compete fully. The injury, which worsened over the clay and grass seasons, required a recovery period but did not contribute to his Wimbledon defeat, which he attributed to surface struggles. Draper welcomed the match as a valuable test to regain competitive form and plans to continue with a full tournament schedule while monitoring his arm's condition. His recent mixed doubles participation alongside Jessica Pegula and his previous successes earlier in the year indicate he is poised to challenge the top players at the US Open. Overall, Draper remains optimistic about his prospects despite the physical setback and the challenge of maintaining form under injury constraints.