Jack Draper’s heroic career at the Australian Open ended after Britain’s top seed was forced to withdraw from his fourth-round match against Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz at Rod Laver Arena.
The British No.1 entered the tournament with little preparation after suffering a thigh injury during pre-season, which he admitted he still has to deal with.
Then he played three five-set matches, spending more than 12 and a half hours on court, which was too much.
After taking a medical break at the end of a competitive first set, Draper became increasingly vulnerable in the second set, and after Alcaraz led 7-5, 6-1, the 15th seed decided to shake hands.
Draper expressed pride in his improved physical flexibility and must hope he doesn’t cause any further damage that could affect the rest of his season.
“This is not the way I wanted to go through it,” said the Spaniard, who may now face Novak Djokovic. “I’m happy to play again in the quarter-finals but I’m a little sad for Jack.”
“He’s a really nice guy, he doesn’t deserve to get injured. He couldn’t prepare well at the beginning of the season. I’m sure he’ll come back stronger like he always does, and I just want to hope so.” He has a speedy recovery.”
With Djokovic once again being given the preferred spot in the night session, scheduling did not help Draper as he was forced to play in sweltering heat on the warmest day of the tournament.
Draper revealed after beating Aleksandar Vukic in the deciding tiebreaker at 1am on Saturday that he has been working with a breathing coach to try to improve his endurance.
He expected to feel pain, and Draper certainly did not look at his condition more actively, but he saved four break points in his first two games.
Alcaraz then made two saves for the British No.1 before finally taking a 4-2 lead, but the Spaniard was not at his best.
His fourth and fifth double faults in the set, at 5-3, plus two errors, gave Draper a break, but a forehand pass on the goal line decided the set, in which Alcaraz committed 21 unforced errors.
Draper then called the coach and headed off the field, and Alcaraz took the time to speak with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.
The 21-year-old stepped up his game at the start of the second set, while it became increasingly clear that Draper was struggling.
He wasn’t able to even attempt to chase the balls, and after sitting down briefly at the end of the set, he wisely decided not to continue.
With this victory, Alcaraz equals the Open Era record by reaching the quarter-finals for the tenth time in a Grand Slam before he turns 22, joining Boris Becker, Mats Wilander and Björn Borg.
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