Jack Draper retired from his first-round match at the Barcelona Open, trailing Tomas Martin Etcheverry 4-1 in the deciding set due to a knee injury. Physio taped an area below his right knee before the final set, highlighting ongoing issues that have plagued his season. The 2024 US Open semi-finalist had previously worn similar tape during his run to the Indian Wells quarter-finals in March, where he defeated Novak Djokovic. Draper was set to defend 850 ranking points from last year's clay swing, where he reached the Madrid final and the Rome quarter-finals. With these points now dropping off, he is expected to fall outside the world's top 70. That ranking drop means he will likely be unseeded at both the French Open and Wimbledon. Draper reached a career-high of number four in June 2023 but has since struggled with multiple injuries, including a six-month absence in 2023 due to a shoulder issue and prior hip problems. After winning Indian Wells, bone bruising in his left serving arm limited him to just one singles match after Wimbledon. He returned to competition in February with a Davis Cup win over Viktor Durasovic in Norway. Following that match, Draper spoke about using time away from tennis to reset mentally. "I've kind of taken a step back from tennis in this period," he said. "Tennis is a bubble, and sometimes you can get distracted that it's all that matters in life." With Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal also sidelined, only Katie Boulter and Cameron Norrie represent Britain in the Madrid Open main draw.
Draper's latest injury exit comes just as the ranking consequences of last year's strong clay season begin to take effect. Losing 850 points without a chance to defend them will almost certainly cost him seeding at major tournaments this summer. No Nigerian or African player featured in the event or related developments.
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