Britain’s Jack Draper needed to retire within the third set of his first-round match in opposition to Tomas Martin Etcheverry on the Barcelona Open due to a knee damage.
Draper, enjoying his first match of the clay-court season, received the primary set in opposition to Argentina’s Etcheverry 6-3 however started to have issue together with his motion and misplaced the second set 6-3.
The 24-year-old obtained consideration from a physio and had tape utilized to an space beneath his proper knee shortly earlier than the deciding set began.
His serve was damaged twice by Etcheverry within the third set and, after struggling to get across the court docket, he conceded the competition at 4-1 down.
Draper, ranked twenty eighth on the planet, has been cautious throughout a return from an arm damage and pulled out of the current Monte Carlo Masters earlier than the event.
He was absent for six months due to a bruised bone in his left serving arm, earlier than returning to aggressive motion in February.
The Barcelona Open was Draper’s fourth occasion since he made his comeback.
Etcheverry stated Draper is a “nice competitor” and is eager to see him again on court docket once more within the close to future.
“I like how he performs – he is an excellent fighter,” he stated. “Hopefully he can recuperate as quickly as he can to get again on tour as a result of the tour likes him.”
Cameron Norrie, who changed Draper as British primary final month, beat Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 to progress by way of his first-round tie.
Norrie served out for the match at 5-4 within the second set however let the 41-year-old again into the competition earlier than he received himself again on monitor within the deciding set.
“I put myself in a profitable place serving at a set and 5-4 up,” stated Norrie, 30, who will play Ethan Quinn of the US within the second spherical.
“I performed a bit of tentatively in two photographs after which I used to be very tight within the tie-break. I in all probability ought to have received it then, however credit score to him. I performed at a very good stage within the third set.”
