Jack Draper Exits Miami Open in Second Round
British number two Jack Draper, ranked 26th in the world, was eliminated from the Miami Open in the second round after a 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-0) defeat by Reilly Opelka.
The 24-year-old lost both sets in tie-breaks to the American, who is known for his powerful serve. Opelka secured the victory in 93 minutes.
Draper entered the tournament following a strong performance at Indian Wells, where he reached the quarter-finals, including a notable win over Novak Djokovic. This came after nearly eight months away from competition due to an arm injury.
However, Draper struggled against Opelka, who stands 6ft 11in tall and is ranked 67th globally. Opelka delivered 25 aces and 47 winners during the match.
This defeat puts Draper at risk of dropping further in the rankings ahead of the clay-court season, especially after losing his position as British number one to Cameron Norrie this week.
Katie Boulter Advances After Opponent Retires
In other news, British number three Katie Boulter progressed to the third round at Miami Gardens when Denmark's Clara Tauson retired due to injury during their match.
Boulter initially held a 5-3 lead but lost the first-set tie-break 7-4 to Tauson. She then fought back to win the second set 6-4.
After winning the first game of the third set, Tauson was forced to retire.
"It was a complete battle - some ugly tennis and ugly conditions as well, but you have to find a way," Boulter said. "Unfortunately she couldn't finish but it is what it is. It's never the way you want to win, but happy to be through to the next round."
