Former British number one Jack Draper has withdrawn on the eve of another tournament because of the long-term arm injury which continues to cause him discomfort.

Left-handed Draper, 24, has pulled out of the ATP Tour event in Washington, which was set to be his first appearance since ruling himself out of Wimbledon last month.

Draper has been hampered by bone bruising in his serving arm for more than a year, but said at the weekend, external he was “feeling physically good” before the Mubadala DC Open.

He looked strong in practice sessions under the guidance of new coach Andy Murray, but withdrew from the ATP 500 event on Monday after feeling more soreness in the problematic arm.

It is another frustrating setback for Draper and a similar scenario to the All England Club, where he talked positively about his fitness before withdrawing just 24 hours before his first-round match.

Draper remains hopeful of playing in Montreal and Cincinnati before the US Open – where he reached the semi-finals in 2024 – starts on 30 August.

However, there is no doubt this is another concerning development – and a worrying pattern with an injury which Draper describes as “complicated”.

The former world number four has only played 14 matches in the past 12 months, largely because of the bruised humerus which he has tried to overcome by resting for long periods.

“It’s hard to tell when you can push [and] when not to push,” Draper said at Wimbledon.

“At the end of the day I’m playing a very aggressive sport, that you need to play through some stuff. Sometimes it’s too much. Sometimes it’s not.

“I wouldn’t be competing anywhere if there was a chance that I’m going to get a lot worse, for instance.”

Draper’s initial comeback earlier this season was derailed by tendinitis in his knee and the three-time ATP Tour winner had not played for more than two months before his return at Eastbourne in June.

Reaching the semi-finals came at a price, though, with his arm injury flaring up again at Wimbledon and leaving Draper “devastated” at having to pull out of his home Grand Slam.

Draper, who is now ranked 147th in the world, has not played a major since the US Open in August.

If he is fit enough to play at Flushing Meadows this year, he will have to come through qualifying – or be given a wildcard – to play in the main draw.

In Washington, Draper will be replaced in the draw by lucky loser Mackenzie McDonald.