Draper in tears as Atmane ends latest comeback in Montreal

Terence Atmane came through a see-saw contest to beat Jack Draper 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 on Tuesday evening and reach the second round of the National Bank Open presented by Rogers — but the abiding image of the night was of the Briton in distress.

Draper broke down in tears at the changeover late in the third set, moments after being broken for a second time, as his troubled comeback unravelled once more. The former world No 4, hampered again by the left-arm injury that has wrecked more than a year of his career, simply could not sustain his level over three sets — a familiar problem for a player who, by his own admission, has been unable to string consecutive weeks of tennis together for months.

Draper’s context

There had been flashes of the old Draper. After dropping a scrappy opener, he surged through the second set 6-2, dictating with his heavy left-handed game and looking, briefly, like the top-five player he once was. But the effort took its toll: in the decider his level dipped, the errors crept in, and Atmane — a fellow left-hander enjoying a fine season – pounced to seal his first win in Montreal and his 13th of 2026.

The context makes it a poignant defeat. Draper’s problems trace back to last year’s US Open, where he withdrew as the No 5 seed with the arm issue that had already nagged him at Wimbledon, before shutting down the rest of his 2025 season. The injury then cost him all three Grand Slams of 2026 — the Australian Open, Roland-Garros and Wimbledon — and he was forced to pull out of the Washington DC Open only last week when the arm flared again.

The toll on his ranking has been brutal: once as high as No 4, Draper has tumbled roughly 143 places over the past 12 months to around world No 147, and now looks set to face qualifying at the US Open in September. Handed wild cards in Montreal (and next week in Cincinnati) as he tries to rebuild under the guidance of coach Andy Murray, he at least got matches into his body – but the finish line to full fitness still looks agonisingly far away.

For Atmane, it’s a place in the round of 64 and against Karen Khachanov, seed No.1.

Montreal Masters 1000, 1st round

• A. Michelsen d. J.-L. Struff: 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
• D. Merida d. L. Draxl: 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
• G. Monfils d. K. Majchrzak: 6-4, 6-4
• V. Royer d. P. Carreño Busta: 1-6, 7-5, 6-2
• A. Popyrin d. R. Burruchaga: 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
• T. Tirante d. D. Chan: 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(3)
• A. van de Zandschulp d. G. Mpetshi Perricard: 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
• H. Hurkacz d. M. Giron: 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
• T. Atmane d. J. Draper : 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
• J. Fearnley d. A. Mannarino: 7-6(3), 6-4
• J. Cerundolo d. H. Medjedovic: 6-4, 6-2
• S. Tsitsipas d. M. Damm: 6-4, 6-4
• S. Baez d. M. Bellucci: 7-5, 6-3
• J. Brooksby d. A. Walton: 6-3, 6-4
• V. Kopriva d. A. Galarneau: 6-4, 6-4
• J. Munar d. R. Hijikata: 7-6(3), 6-3
• C. Moutet d. M. Fucsovics: 6-1, 6-2
• N. Mejia d. M. Landaluce: 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
• M. Navone d. M. Berrettini: 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3
• Z. Svajda d. D. Shapovalov: 4-6, 6-4, 3-0 RET
• C. Norrie d. C. Ugo Carabelli: 7-6(5), 6-4
• J. Duckworth d. C. O’Connell: 6-3, 6-1
• Y. Hanfmann d. B. Bonzi: 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
• N. Borges d. A. Kovacevic: 6-7(7), 6-2, 6-4
• G. Diallo d. K. Jacquet: 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-2
• J. Shang d. A. Vallejo: 6-3, 6-3
• M. Cilic d. S. Shimabukuro: 7-6(2), 6-1
• M. Kecmanovic d. M. Zheng: 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5)
• D. Altmaier d. A. Vukic: 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 6-4
• T. Droguet d. L. Van Assche: 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(7)