Jack Draper Withdraws from Madrid and Rome Due to Knee Injury

Jack Draper, the 24-year-old British tennis player, has withdrawn from this week's Madrid Open and next month's Italian Open due to an aggravated knee tendon injury that forced him to retire from his opening match at the Barcelona Open last week.

The injury, which affected his right knee, surfaced during Draper's third-set battle against Argentina's Tomás Martín Etcheverry, where he trailed 4-1 before stopping play. He had skipped the Monte Carlo Masters earlier this month and wore tape on the knee during his recent run to the quarterfinals at Indian Wells, where he defeated Novak Djokovic. This marks another setback for Draper, who returned to competition in February after a six-month absence caused by bone bruising in his left serving arm. Since his comeback, he has competed in four ATP tournaments plus a Davis Cup match for Great Britain, compiling a 5-4 record.

In a statement released Monday, Draper expressed optimism despite the frustration. "An aggravated tendon in my knee means I am not able to play in Madrid and Rome," he said. "It's frustrating for sure, but I am thankful it isn't anything more serious. Recovery is going well and I feel good about my chances of being...