Jack Draper was forced to withdraw from yet another ATP event, this time the 2023 Italian Open in Rome.
After winning four titles on the ATP Challenger Tour last year, the 21-year-old Brit earned enough ranking points to finish the season in the Top 50 of the ATP Rankings and he wanted to continue his rise also this year. However, injuries are preventing him from doing that.
Last year, Draper played 65 matches, winning on 46 occasions. In 2023, the Brit got a chance to compete only 13 times, winning eight of those matches. After good start of the season in Adelaide and unlucky draw in Melbourne, where he faced Rafael Nadal, Draper moved to the United States for the Sunshine Double.
He was doing really well in Indian Wells. It started with a first-round win over Leandro Riedi, then, Draper managed to beat also compatriots Dan Evans and Andy Murray, before taking on the 19-year-old Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz.
In the past, Draper wasn't afraid to say that he views Alcaraz as a benchmark for him, but he wasn't able to test his skills against his in Indian Wells. An abdominal injury forced him to retire from that match and that's where the Brit's struggles started.
He subsequently withdrew also from the 2023 Miami Open, and even though he got to play at the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters, the following Madrid Open was held also without Draper.
Now, it's obvious that Draper's injury struggles continue as he withdrew also from the 2023 Italian Open in Rome, starting on May 10th at Foro Italico. The 21-year-old will now hope to recover in time for the upcoming Roland Garros, where he will have a good chance to add some valuable points to his name.
0 Comments