In a devastating blow to British tennis hopes, rising star Jack Draper has been forced to withdraw from the US Open just moments before his first-round match was due to commence.
The 21-year-old, seeded for the first time at a major tournament, succumbed to a recurring shoulder injury that has plagued his breakthrough season. Draper was scheduled to face Romania's Radu Albot on Court 4 at Flushing Meadows.
A Crushing Blow for British Tennis
The withdrawal marks a significant setback for both Draper and the British contingent in New York. As one of the most promising talents on the ATP Tour, his absence leaves a considerable gap in the draw.
Draper had been battling the shoulder issue throughout the North American hard-court swing, a problem that also forced him to retire from his quarter-final match at the Winston-Salem Open last week.
The Rising Star's Difficult Season
This latest injury continues a frustrating pattern for the young Briton, whose rapid ascent up the rankings has been repeatedly interrupted by physical problems. Despite these challenges, Draper had shown impressive form this season, including reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final in Montreal earlier this month.
His withdrawal means a walkover for opponent Radu Albot, who advances to the second round without striking a ball. For British tennis fans, it represents another chapter of what might have been for their most promising male prospect since Andy Murray.
The tennis world now awaits news on the severity of Draper's injury and how long he might be sidelined from the tour.
