The ATP 500 occasion in Rotterdam ought to have introduced eight top-16 gamers from the ATP rating record! Nonetheless, the organizers of the celebrated indoor event misplaced three gamers who would have been among the many seeds.
After world no. 1 Jannik Sinner and Grigor Dimitrov, the younger Briton Jack Draper additionally pulled out from the ATP 500 event. Final yr’s US Open semi-finalist skilled a setback in the course of the low season.
Jack injured his hip within the first week of the pre-season coaching course of, skipping a visit to Spain and practising classes with Carlos Alcaraz. Draper stayed at house and labored onerous to arrange for the brand new season. The Briton skipped the United Cup and kicked off the season in Melbourne.
We’re glad Jack Draper is sweet at tennis as a result of he would not have a lot probability in cricket 🏏#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/IZ2Blyqayn
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 17, 2025
Jack handed three rivals from two units to 1 down on the Australian Open. He entered the fourth spherical however misplaced steam forward of the Carlos Alcaraz conflict. The Briton fought properly within the opener earlier than retiring after dropping set quantity two.
Draper took precautionary measures, unwilling to danger extra points and stress his troubled hip. Jack select to postpone his return additional, withdrawing from Rotterdam and hoping to return to motion at one other ATP 500 occasion in Doha.
Jack Draper, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The Briton battled previous Mariano Navone, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Aleksandar Vukic in Melbourne after trailing in each match. He met his good good friend Carlos Alcaraz within the final 16 and fell 7-5, 6-1 behind earlier than retiring.
World no. 3 landed 38 winners and 28 unforced errors. He dropped serve as soon as and stored the stress on the opposite facet. Draper gave away nearly half of the factors in his video games and suffered 4 breaks from 12 possibilities provided to his good good friend.
Jack Draper, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The Briton survived an early scare on serve within the opening set and earned two break possibilities at 2-2. Alcaraz saved them and held with a drop shot winner. Jack missed a forehand within the sixth sport and misplaced serve, falling 4-2 behind.
Draper pulled the break again at 3-5 and prolonged the battle. Nonetheless, Carlos made one other push on the return in sport 12 and fired a forehand down the road winner for 7-5 in 56 minutes. Jack struggled bodily within the second set and misplaced floor.
Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The Spaniard secured a break within the second sport with a forehand winner and held at love for 3-0. The Briton defended break factors within the fourth sport earlier than struggling one other break at 1-4 after Alcaraz’s forehand winner.
Carlos served for the set at 5-1 and held at love with an ace. Thus, he moved two units to like in entrance earlier than Jack determined to retire.
