The ATP 500 event in Rotterdam should have brought eight top-16 players from the ATP ranking list! However, the organizers of the prestigious indoor tournament lost three players who would have been among the seeds.
After world no. 1 Jannik Sinner and Grigor Dimitrov, the young Briton Jack Draper also pulled out from the ATP 500 tournament. Last year’s US Open semi-finalist experienced a setback during the off-season.
Jack injured his hip in the first week of the pre-season training process, skipping a trip to Spain and practicing sessions with Carlos Alcaraz. Draper stayed at home and worked hard to prepare for the new season. The Briton skipped the United Cup and kicked off the season in Melbourne.
We’re glad Jack Draper is good at tennis because he wouldn’t have much chance in cricket 🏏#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/IZ2Blyqayn
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 17, 2025
Jack passed three rivals from two sets to one down at the Australian Open. He entered the fourth round but lost steam ahead of the Carlos Alcaraz clash. The Briton fought well in the opener before retiring after dropping set number two.
Draper took precautionary measures, unwilling to risk more issues and stress his troubled hip. Jack choose to postpone his return further, withdrawing from Rotterdam and hoping to return to action at another ATP 500 event in Doha.
Jack Draper, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The Briton battled past Mariano Navone, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Aleksandar Vukic in Melbourne after trailing in every match. He met his good friend Carlos Alcaraz in the last 16 and fell 7-5, 6-1 behind before retiring.
World no. 3 landed 38 winners and 28 unforced errors. He dropped serve once and kept the pressure on the other side. Draper gave away almost half of the points in his games and suffered four breaks from 12 chances offered to his good friend.
Jack Draper, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The Briton survived an early scare on serve in the opening set and earned two break chances at 2-2. Alcaraz saved them and held with a drop shot winner. Jack missed a forehand in the sixth game and lost serve, falling 4-2 behind.
Draper pulled the break back at 3-5 and extended the battle. However, Carlos made another push on the return in game 12 and fired a forehand down the line winner for 7-5 in 56 minutes. Jack struggled physically in the second set and lost ground.
Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The Spaniard secured a break in the second game with a forehand winner and held at love for 3-0. The Briton defended break points in the fourth game before suffering another 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 sets to love in front before Jack decided to retire.
Tennis World USA