Jack Draper has been forced to retire from the Japan Open quarter-final due to injury. The British tennis player withdrew from the match against Ugo Humbert after struggling with an abdominal injury. Draper, who recently reached the semi-finals at the US Open, was trailing 7-5 2-1 to the Frenchman when he pulled up during a point and appeared to be in discomfort.
The 22-year-old shook his head as his injury affected his serve, ultimately leading to his decision to retire mid-game. Draper had been aiming to secure a spot in the semi-finals in Tokyo following an impressive victory over second seed Hubert Hurkacz in the previous round. Despite his early exit in Japan, Draper will be looking to recover in time for the ATP Masters tournament in Shanghai next week, a major event during the indoor season.
Humbert, on the other hand, advanced to face Tomas Machac in the quest for a place in the final, with other players like Arthur Fils, Ben Shelton, Kei Nishikori and Holger Rune also in the draw. Draper’s retirement highlights the physical demands of professional tennis and the challenges faced by players in maintaining peak performance. Fans will be eagerly awaiting Draper’s return to the court and hoping for a swift recovery for the talented player.