Madrid Open: Jack Draper Withdraws Due to Injury, Boulter Faces Townsend

The Mutua Madrid Open draw has been announced, with the tournament set to begin on Tuesday and broadcast live on Sky Sports. Britain's Jack Draper has withdrawn from the competition due to a knee injury he sustained during the Barcelona Open. Draper joins a list of high-profile players who have withdrawn from the event, including Emma Raducanu, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic. The 24-year-old Draper will also miss the Italian Open next month but is targeting a return to action at the French Open in May. 'I've aggravated a tendon in my knee, which means I won't be able to compete in Madrid and Rome,' Draper said in a statement. 'While it's frustrating, I'm relieved it's not a more serious issue, and my recovery is progressing well. I'm optimistic about my chances of being fit for Roland Garros and building momentum from there.' Cameron Norrie, another British player, will participate in the tournament and has received a first-round bye. Norrie recently reached the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open after a second-round exit at Monte Carlo. Katie Boulter will face American Taylor Townsend in the first round, with a potential meeting against fifth seed Jessica Pegula in the second round. Boulter has a 3-0 head-to-head record against Townsend but hasn't played her since 2024. Townsend has been in good form this season, reaching the final of the ATX Open WTA 250 in February. The top seed, Jannik Sinner, has also received a first-round bye. The ATP and WTA Tours can be watched live on Sky Sports or streamed with NOW and the Sky Sports app, providing customers with access to over 50% more live sports this year at no extra cost.