Draper loses in straight sets to Landaluce in Cincinnati first round

Jack Draper lost 6-3 7-5 to Spain’s Martin Landaluce in the first round of the Cincinnati Open on 13 August 2026, surrendering a 5-2 lead in the second set.

Draper, ranked 143rd in the world after being as high as fourth last summer, has been hampered by a persistent arm injury that in a 12-month period saw his ranking fall from fourth to as low as 160. Since injuring his shoulder at the US Open in August he has struggled with bone bruising and withdrew from planned comebacks at Wimbledon and the Washington Open this summer. The match in Cincinnati was his second since June; he had recently lost to Terence Atmane at the Canadian Open and it was his first match since breaking down in tears during his return from injury last week.

In Cincinnati Draper led 5-2 in the second set but failed to convert six set points as 20-year-old Landaluce reeled off five consecutive games to close out a straight-sets victory. Landaluce secured the win by the scoreline 6-3 7-5.

Draper, 24, finished the match with 47 unforced errors and 12 double faults against the world number 64. He did not appear to be carrying a new injury during the match but tired in the second set and observers noted his confidence seemed to fade once the Spaniard reached 5-5.

Draper has recently consulted biomechanics expert Carlos Cano in a bid to resolve his injury problems; Cano, a 61-year-old Mexican, has already helped Arthur Fery become British number one.

The defeat eliminates Draper from the Cincinnati Open and ends his run at the tournament in the opening round.