Jack Draper’s clay court season got off to a disappointing start when he was forced to leave injured late in the third set of his first-round match against Argentina’s Tomás Martin Echeverry at the Barcelona Open.
Draper won the first set in his first match since losing in the second round at the hard-court Miami Open on March 20, but struggled with movement after that and had a physical therapist put tape under his right knee during the break between the second and third sets.
However, after losing the second set 6-3, Draper was just broken for the second time and led Hetchberry 4-1 in the third set before retiring from the match.
Draper, who is ranked one spot above his opponent in the ATP Rankings, got off to a promising start, winning the first set 6-3, but Echeverry, who led world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in three sets on the clay courts of Monte Carlo last week, quickly took control and was clearly hampered by his knee from the start of the second set.
“He was playing unbelievable,” Echeverry said.
“He’s a great competitor. I liked the way he played. He’s a great fighter. He’s liked on tour, so I hope he recovers as soon as possible and gets back on tour.”
Draper has been sidelined since last August’s U.S. Open due to a left arm injury, and Barcelona represents Draper’s fourth tournament back on the ATP Tour, while Echeverry represents his eighth tournament back.
He will next compete in the ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid starting April 22, where he reached the final last year but lost to Casper Ruud.
Echeverry will face Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the second round at Real Club de Tennis Barcelona.
Norie ‘digs deep’ to deny wildcard Wawrinka extended Barcelona fanaticism
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Highlights of Cam Norrie vs. Stan Wawrinka at Barcelona Open
British number one Cameron Norrie fought through a grueling two-and-a-half hour three-setter against three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka to qualify for the second round.
Norie won the first set 6-4, but Wawrinka, 41, who earned a wild card spot in his final year on tour before retiring, took the second set in a tiebreak and sent the match to a decider.
But Norrie came out on top thanks to his only break of service in the third set, winning 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4.
The seventh seed will face American Ethan Quinn in the second round.
“I didn’t feel that great physically today, so mentally I had to dig pretty deep,” Nolley said.
“I had to dig deep and get fired up in some moments, and I was able to do that in the third set when I had some break points.”
Boulter advances to last 16 in Rouen
Katie Boulter secured a place in the last 16 at the Rouen Open with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory over Maria Timofeeva.
The British number three bounced back from a narrow first-round loss to Elena Gabriela Ruse in Linz last week with a dominant performance against the current world number 153.
While many of the top players have opted to play in Stuttgart this week, Boulter is looking to perform well in Rouen and possibly win the first clay court title of his career.
A third-round match against former Grand Slam champion Sloane Stevens was scheduled, but the American’s WTA main tour debut came to nothing as she lost 6-2, 6-1 to Veronika Podres of Ukraine.
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