JACK DRAPER’S hopes of playing in the US Open appear to be in doubt after his latest comeback attempt saw him break down in tears mid-match.

The 24-year-old was playing his first match since June at the Canadian Open in Montreal on Tuesday, having suffered a recurrence of the bone bruising that kept him out for almost seven months.

Draper played a fine second set against France’s Terence Atmane to force a decider in the opening-round clash but looked in discomfort, with his serve badly affected.

After being broken to trail 4-1, Draper sat on his chair and sobbed, eventually losing 6-3 2-6 6-2.

The Londoner has been given a wild card for the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati beginning next week, while the US Open – for which he would need a wild card – starts on August 30.

Draper is due to play in the mixed doubles at Flushing Meadows the preceding week with Jessica Pegula, and the American admitted their participation is now in doubt.

Speaking to reporters in Canada, Pegula said: “I know that he’s been struggling a bit with some injuries and I saw today he had a really tough day with his match.

“We’re supposed to play. Obviously I know he’s not healthy, so we’ll see how that goes.”

Pegula and Draper reached the semi-finals last year, and she added: “I’ve always since then been a very big fan, and it’s been fun to watch him. He’s a really nice kid, so I enjoy playing with him.

“Hoping that he can just get healthy and we can see him back out there.”

If Draper is unable to play in New York, it would be a fourth consecutive grand slam that he has missed through injury.

Draper’s problems first surfaced after a second-round exit at Wimbledon last year, with the former US Open semi-finalist forced off the tour with a bone bruise in his left arm.

He tried to make a comeback at Flushing Meadows but pulled out ahead of his second-round match and did not play again until February.

After initial positive signs, including victory over Novak Djokovic in Indian Wells, a changed service motion to try to help his arm problem led to a knee injury that kept him out for another lengthy spell.

Returning just ahead of Wimbledon in Eastbourne, Draper looked strong and reached the semi-finals only to announce on the eve of his home grand slam that his arm had flared up again and he would not be able to play.

Draper had been due to return at the DC Open in Washington last week but made another late withdrawal due to his arm, and his tears in Montreal showed the immense toll his continued struggles are taking.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the tournament, Draper, whose ranking has slipped to 143, said: “It’s important for people to recognise that the injury I have is very complex, it’s very complicated, and everyone around me is doing everything we can to help this keep moving along.

“It really has been a perfect storm for me in a lot of ways. When I do get out of this storm, I’m going to be pushing on to hopefully get to where I want to be and beyond.”

There was better news for fellow British player Jacob Fearnley, who reached the second round with a 7-6 (3) 6-4 win against Adrian Mannarino.