Draper Retires In First Round As Injury Woes Continue

Britain's Jack Draper had to discontinue successful nan 3rd group of his first-round lucifer against Tomas Martin Etcheverry astatine nan Barcelona Open because of a knee injury.

Draper, playing his first lucifer of nan clay-court season, won nan first group against Argentina's Etcheverry 6-3 but began to person trouble pinch his activity and mislaid nan 2nd group 6-3.

The 24-year-old received attraction from a physio and had portion applied to an area beneath his correct knee soon earlier nan deciding group started.

Draper's service was surgery doubly by Etcheverry successful nan 3rd group and, aft struggling to get astir nan court, he conceded nan title astatine 4-1 down.

Draper, classed 28th successful nan world, has been cautious during a return from an limb wounded and pulled retired of nan caller Monte Carlo Masters earlier nan tournament.

He was absent for six months because of a bruised bony successful his near serving arm, earlier returning to competitory action successful February.

The Barcelona Open was Draper's 4th arena since he made his comeback.

Etcheverry said Draper is simply a "great competitor" and is keen to spot him backmost connected tribunal again successful nan adjacent future.

"I for illustration really he plays. He's a awesome fighter," he said. "Hopefully he tin retrieve arsenic soon arsenic he tin to get backmost connected circuit because nan circuit likes him."

Cameron Norrie, who replaced Draper arsenic British number one past month, faces Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka successful nan first information later connected Monday.