Fifth seed Draper withdraws from US Open due to injury, Zizou Bergs advances as replacement

On August 27, 2025, the US Open witnessed consecutive player injury withdrawals: fifth seed Jack Draper announced his exit due to an arm injury, while Chinese competitor Shang Juncheng also regrettably retired mid-match from physical distress. These premature departures have refocused attention on injury concerns at the US Open.

Draper’s withdrawal was preceded by warning signs. As a 2024 US Open semifinalist, he had missed all tournaments since Wimbledon due to a left humeral stress bone bruise. On the eve of this US Open, he admitted his physical condition: “When hitting forehands and serving, I always feel my arm lacks strength.” Despite this, he managed a tough first-round victory over qualifier Gomez.

He apologized to fans via social media platform X (formerly Twitter): “I gave my all to be here and fought for every chance to compete, but the arm pain was overwhelming. I had to make the right decision and take care of myself. Thanks to everyone who supported me.”

Chinese player Shang Juncheng’s withdrawal was more sudden. During his first-round match at the US Open, leg muscle discomfort increasingly hindered his movement. Despite multiple attempts to adjust rhythm and medical timeouts, he ultimately chose to retire during a tight score. Afterward, Shang revealed he had mild discomfort during pre-match training but chose to play to seize the opportunity until his body could no longer endure.

Following Draper’s withdrawal, Belgian Zizou Bergs became the direct beneficiary, advancing to the US Open third round for the first time in his career. Notably, Bergs recently shared his experience overcoming inner struggles, making this progression a further encouragement. Next, he will face the winner between 31st seed Diallo and Munar.

Analyzing deeper rounds, Draper’s withdrawal is undoubtedly good news for Sinner, easing much pressure in the quarterfinal competition. The player advancing to the quarterfinals from this section could be Musetti (10), Cobolli (24), or Diallo (31).

Looking at the season’s performance, the withdrawals of Draper and Shang are regrettable. Draper holds a 30-9 record this season, ranks seventh on the PIF ATP Turin Finals leaderboard, and possesses the Indian Wells Masters title, fully aiming for his first ATP Finals qualification; Shang just recovered from foot surgery and was highly anticipated to break through at this US Open. Injuries have undoubtedly cast a shadow over their season goals.

Objectively, players prone to injuries in tennis often face a dilemma of “opportunities and risks coexist.” On one hand, they usually have strong competitiveness and a winning mindset, like Draper who persisted through the first round despite injury, showing resilience that is vital for professional players to compete in intense tournaments; on the other hand, excessive persistence or neglecting early injuries may worsen conditions and impact long-term performance. Moreover, modern tennis’ dense schedule and high intensity place continuous physical demands on players, and mismatches between training, recovery, and competition rhythm can increase injury risk.

For such players, injuries are both a challenge and an opportunity to adjust — properly assessing physical condition and timely stopping is not retreat but a responsible choice for a longer career; meanwhile, organizers and teams must provide precise medical support and schedule planning to help players balance performance pursuit and body protection, enabling more athletes to showcase their best level in good health on court.

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