TENNIS: Draper vows to overcome injury woes after Barcelona exit

Jack Draper remains determined to recover from his latest injury setback, which forced him to retire midway through his first-round match at the Barcelona Open on Monday. The 24-year-old Briton, who has been battling ongoing injury problems, was forced to retire with a right leg issue while trailing 1-4 in the deciding set against Argentina's Tomas Etcheverry.

This latest setback comes after Draper made his return to action in February following a six-month hiatus due to a persistent left arm injury. The recent injury casts uncertainty over his fitness as he prepares for the upcoming clay court season.

"Sad to retire in Barcelona. I've tried hard these last months to stay positive and give my all," Draper wrote in a social media post. "It will take time, but I will work my way out of this. Thank you for all the support throughout this process."

Despite an early exit in Dubai in February, Draper showed glimpses of his potential, notably securing a win over 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells. However, his title defense in the Californian desert ended in the quarter-finals, where he was defeated by Daniil Medvedev. Draper then suffered another early exit in Miami and was forced to withdraw from Monte Carlo to protect his arm.

With hopes of recovering and building momentum, Draper was eyeing a fresh start in Barcelona ahead of the French Open, which begins on May 24. The former world number 4, who has since dropped to 28th in the ATP rankings, remains optimistic about his future on the tour.

Tomas Etcheverry, who defeated Draper, spoke highly of the British player, saying, "I like how he plays, he's a great fighter. Hopefully, he can recover as soon as he can to get back on tour, because the tour likes him."

Draper’s fans will be hoping that this injury is just another hurdle in his path, and he will soon make a full recovery to continue his promising career on the ATP tour.

-Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Neil Fullick/Reuters