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British tennis fans tuning into BBC One on day one of Wimbledon received some crushing news while tuning in for Jannik Sinner’s first-round clash with Miomir Kecmanovic. As Sinner sat down during a changeover in the second set, presenter Isa Guha announced that a “devastated” Jack Draper had withdrawn from the tournament.
She told viewers: “There’s been so much action, so much news to tell you about, and there’s some more disappointing news for British fans. After Emma Raducanu was forced to withdraw with injury last night, Jack Draper has also dropped out. This is breaking news just coming out of the Draper camp. The British No. 5 has been due to face sixth seed Taylor Fritz on Centre Court tomorrow, but he has been forced to pull out.
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“This is his statement; he is devastated to share that he has had to withdraw from his first-round match due to a recurrence of an arm injury. He’s suffered with injury over the last six months or so, in fact, throughout his career he’s had to deal with injury.
“A knee problem just recently. He was coming back nicely in Eastbourne, he won three consecutive matches. Jack, we wish you all the best, and that Draper-Murray era will have to wait.”
She threw back to Andrew Castle as world No. 1 Sinner looked to level the score after dropping the first set to Kecmanovic. And the British commentator was also taken aback by Draper’s withdrawal.
“Well, that is terrible news about Jack Draper having to pull out of the tournament with injury. Obviously putting out the statement, that will be mulled over,” he said. “Emma Raducanu dropped on her Instagram last night that she wasn’t able to play, she’s got a stress fracture in the leg. Such a shame. That’s possibly why there’s a bit of a buzz around the place, not just the change of ends.”
Draper had been due to face Fritz in the second match on Centre Court tomorrow, but announced his withdrawal at 2.30pm the day before. He said: “Devastated to share that I have had to withdraw from my first round match due to a recurrence of my arm injury.
“There have been a lot of painful moments in the last 12 months but this one is definitely the absolute worst as there is no greater honour for a British player than playing at Wimbledon. I will continue to persevere through this. Thank you for the support!!”
The former world No. 4 had enlisted Andy Murray as his coach for the grass season, and the three-time Grand Slam champion would have been in Draper’s box for his opening match. This was expected to be Murray’s first public appearance at Wimbledon since his retirement two years ago.
But the bone bruising that forced Draper to end his 2025 season in August seems to have flared up again following his Eastbourne Open semi-final run.
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