Draper retires in first round as injury woes continue

Barcelona—Jack Draper’s return to clay was cut brutally short on Tuesday when the Briton retired with a knee injury midway through his Barcelona Open first-round clash against Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

The 24-year-old, contesting his first match on the surface this season, opened confidently to pocket the first set 6-3, only to see his movement deteriorate as Etcheverry levelled proceedings 6-3 in the second. A physio was summoned courtside during the changeover and applied heavy strapping beneath Draper’s right knee, but the intervention could not prevent the world No. 28 from slipping further behind. Etcheverry broke twice in the decider and, with the scoreboard reading 4-1, Draper walked to the net and ended the contest.

The retirement continues an injury-interrupted campaign for the Briton, who only returned to competition in February after a six-month lay-off caused by a bruised bone in his left serving arm. Barcelona was just his fourth event since coming back; he had withdrawn from the Monte Carlo Masters last week as a precaution.

Etcheverry, who advances to round two, was quick to praise his opponent. “I like how he plays—he’s a great fighter,” the Argentine said. “Hopefully he can recover as soon as he can to get back on tour because the tour likes him.”

Elsewhere in the draw, Cameron Norrie survived a late wobble to defeat former champion Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4 and book a second-round meeting with American qualifier Ethan Quinn.