Jack Draper suffered another injury setback as he was forced to retire from his opening match at the Barcelona Open, handing Tomas Martin Etcheverry a first-round victory.
The British No. 2 made a strong start, taking the opening set 6-3, but his momentum faded as physical issues began to affect his movement. Etcheverry responded by winning the second set by the same score before taking control in the decider. Draper, clearly struggling, received treatment on his right knee but was unable to continue and retired while trailing 4-1 in the third set.
The injury appeared to trouble Draper from early in the second set, with visible discomfort limiting his mobility and allowing Etcheverry to dictate play. Despite medical attention between sets, the 24-year-old lasted only a few more games before calling it quits.
This latest setback adds to a growing list of physical concerns for Draper, who has struggled with injuries over the past year. He had already delayed the start of his clay season and missed the Monte Carlo Masters, making his Barcelona appearance his first outing on the surface this year.
For Etcheverry, the victory continues his solid run on clay, having recently pushed top players to the limit. For Draper, however, attention now turns to recovery, with upcoming tournaments and ranking points potentially at risk if his injury sidelines him further.
The early exit not only ends Draper’s Barcelona campaign but also raises fresh uncertainty over his fitness heading into the rest of the clay season.
