No. 5 seed Jack Draper withdrew from the US Open Men’s Singles draw on Wednesday due to a prolonged injury to his left arm.
Briton, who reached the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows a year ago, did not play the events arriving in Wimbledon and New York. He was diagnosed with a wounded humerus, a bone that runs from the shoulder to the elbow.
“I’m sorry to say I’m going to withdraw from the US opening,” Draper wrote on social media. “I did my best to be here and gave myself the opportunity to play, but the discomfort in my arm has become (too) so I have to do the right thing and take care of myself.”
This is the first time that the top five male species have been withdrawn during the US Open era (since 1968).
With the withdrawal of Draper, Belgian Zizou Bergs advances to the third round via Walkover.
Following his first round victory against qualifier Fedieco Agustin Gomez, Draper showed he was back earlier than planned, testing in a mixed double stomp tournament he played with American Jessica Pegra last week.
“I’ve probably returned to competition after an arm injury, about eight weeks. I’m here seven weeks so I’m early,” Draper told reporters Tuesday. “There are days when you’re really excited because I think you’re on a good path. And there are days when you have a set-off, and oh, I think I might not be able to do that.
“There were a lot of both at the time, but at the same time we were getting closer to the tournament, so I’m sure we haven’t done any more damage to our arms as we were scanning more.
Draper was in the upper half of the draw and could have faced first place Janik Thinner in the quarterfinals.
As a result of his withdrawal, Draper’s ranking drops to at least number 7.
ESPN research contributed to this report.
