Jack Draper retired from his Barcelona Open match against Tomas Martin Etcheverry due to injury after winning the first set. The British player, returning from previous setbacks, struggled with movement issues in his right knee during the third set. Draper vowed on Instagram to work through the problem.
Jack Draper took an early lead in his opening match at the Barcelona Open, defeating Etcheverry 6-3 in the first set. However, Etcheverry leveled the score by winning the second set 6-3 as Draper's movement faltered. In the deciding set, with Draper trailing 4-1, he received physio treatment on his right knee and ultimately retired from the contest. Etcheverry praised his opponent afterward, saying, “I like how he plays – he’s a great fighter. Hopefully, he can recover as soon as he can to get back on tour because the tour likes him.” Draper shared his frustration and determination on Instagram: “Sad to retire in Barcelona. I’ve tried hard these last months to stay positive and give my all. It will take time, but I will work my way out of this. Thank you for all the support throughout this process!” This marks another interruption for Draper, who missed time earlier due to bone bruising in his left humerus and skipped Monte Carlo for training. Currently ranked 27th with 1,610 points, he faces pressure with 850 points to defend at Madrid and Rome.
