Jack Draper has pulled out of the Australian Open after losing the first two sets to Carlos Alcaraz.
The British No.1 had suffered a hip injury before Christmas to prevent playing any warm-up events. And the No.15 seed reached the fourth round here by winning three five-set epic matches.
Draper swapped a break each in the opening set with the French and Wimbledon champion until Alcaraz won his second break point with a running forehand pass after 58 minutes.
The big left-hander, 23, then left the court for a medical timeout.
He was clearly struggling during the second set – he stopped chasing drop shots as he felt his back. And with the score at 7-5 6-1, Draper shook hands with his friend Alcaraz to concede the match after one hour and 36 minutes.
Following Emma Raducanu’s heavy defeat to Iga Swiatek on Saturday, there are no British singles players left in the Australian Open singles.
Alcaraz said: “This is not the way I want to win a match and get through. I am happy obviously to play another quarter-final in Australia but I am sad for Jack.
“He doesn’t deserve to get this injury. He couldn’t prepare at the start of the season. We should have had a good week of pre-season but couldn’t because of the injury. I feel a little bit sad for him. I am sure he will come back stronger and I just wish him a speedy recovery.”
Alcaraz, 21, will play the winner of tonight’s match between Novak Djokovic and Jiri Lehecka as he seeks to break Rafa Nadal’s record and become the youngest man to win the career Grand Slam.
He lost in the last eight here last year – his best performance in Melbourne.
“I am just happy with the level I am playing,” said the world No.3.
“Physically I am feeling great. Coming to the second week of a Grand Slam, it is important to feel good. They are even tougher. I am ready. I am looking forward to playing my second quarter-final. here and hopefully go further this year.”
Draper had finished his third round win here over Aleksandar Vukic at 12.55am on Saturday morning. And his recovery time was shortened with his match with Alcaraz scheduled as the third match on the Rod Laver Arena – they started just after 4pm – on the hottest day of the tournament so far.
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