The Mutua Madrid Open draw has been announced, with the tournament set to start on Tuesday and broadcast live on Sky Sports. Jack Draper, who was initially entered into the competition, has withdrawn due to a knee injury that also cut his participation short in the Barcelona Open. This withdrawal follows a string of high-profile pullouts, including Emma Raducanu, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic.
Draper's injury will also keep him out of next month's Italian Open, but he is targeting a return at the French Open in May. In a statement, the 24-year-old explained that an aggravated tendon in his knee is the cause of his withdrawal, adding that while it's frustrating, he is relieved it's not a more serious issue and is optimistic about his recovery. Draper stated, '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 fit for Roland Garros.
I am looking forward to building momentum from there.' Cameron Norrie, another British player, will participate in the tournament and has received a first-round bye. Norrie recently made it to the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open after a second-round exit in Monte Carlo. Katie Boulter will begin her campaign against American Taylor Townsend, with a potential second-round match against fifth seed Jessica Pegula. Boulter has a strong record against Townsend, having won all three of their previous encounters, although they haven't met since 2024.
Townsend has been in good form this season, including reaching the final of the ATX Open WTA 250 in February. A win for Boulter would set up a meeting with Pegula, who recently won her second WTA title of the season in Charleston. Despite the absence of notable players like Alcaraz and Djokovic, Jannik Sinner will be the top seed and has also received a first-round bye.
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