In a turn of events, Britain's rising tennis sensation, Jack Draper, has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the highly anticipated Miami Open.
The 21-year-old's withdrawal comes in light of an abdominal injury sustained during the recent Indian Wells tournament, with the young star unwilling to risk further complications.
Tennis fans were left wondering what this might mean for Draper's future, as he was recently showing his undeniable talent, and an injury setback that stops his progression is the last thing that a young athlete like the Brit needs right now.
It was at Indian Wells where Draper, currently ranked 43rd in the world, experienced a slight tear to his muscle. Despite the setback, Draper persevered in his fourth-round match against Carlos Alcaraz - a decision that ultimately led to his early retirement from the match in the second set.
Alcaraz went on to win the tournament and claim the title to become the new world number one, while the British player was left with a decision whether he should continue or abandon his plans for the following ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
Draper's career has been marred by a series of retirements in 2021, raising concerns about his long-term prospects in the sport. However, the young tennis star managed to bounce back and participate in 22 events last year.
His fans have been hopeful that Draper's injury struggles were behind him, but this latest development leaves those hopes hanging in the balance. The youngster also provided a statement, in which he explained the situation.
"Unfortunately I won’t be able to play in the Miami Open this year. The injury I picked up last week needs more time to heal and recover properly. My main goal at this time is to play consistently on the tour but I have to be patient. Thank you for the support!"
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