The Mutua Madrid Open draw has been announced, with the tournament set to start on Tuesday and broadcast live on Sky Sports. However, Britain's Jack Draper has withdrawn from the competition as he continues to recover from a knee injury sustained during the Barcelona Open. Draper joins a list of high-profile withdrawals, including Emma Raducanu, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic. The 2024 US Open semi-finalist is also expected to miss the Italian Open next month but is aiming to return to action at the French Open in May.
'I have an aggravated tendon in my knee, which means I won't be able to participate in Madrid and Rome,' Draper said in a statement. 'Although it's frustrating, I'm relieved it's not a more severe issue, and my recovery is progressing well. I'm optimistic about my chances of being fit for Roland Garros and look forward to building momentum from there.' Meanwhile, Britain's Cameron Norrie will participate in the tournament and has received a first-round bye. Norrie recently reached the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open after a second-round exit at Monte Carlo.
Katie Boulter will begin her campaign against 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 record against Townsend, although they haven't played since Beijing in 2024. Townsend has been in good form this season, reaching the final of the ATX Open WTA 250 in February.
A win for Boulter would set up a second-round match against Pegula, who recently won her second WTA title of the season in Charleston. Although Alcaraz and Djokovic are notable absentees, Jannik Sinner is the top seed and will receive a bye in the first round.
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