Draper Withdraws from Madrid Open, Boulter Faces Townsend in First Round

The Mutua Madrid Open draw has been announced, with the tournament set to commence on Tuesday and broadcast live on Sky Sports. Britain's Jack Draper has withdrawn from the competition as he continues to recover from a knee injury sustained during the Barcelona Open.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. He will also miss the Italian Open next month but is aiming to return to action at the French Open in May. In a statement, the 24-year-old explained that an 'aggravated tendon in my knee means I am not able to play in Madrid and Rome.' Despite the setback, Draper remains optimistic, stating, '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.' 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 begin her campaign against American Taylor Townsend in the first round, with a potential second-round meeting against fifth seed Jessica Pegula. Boulter has a 3-0 head-to-head record against Townsend, although they haven't played since Beijing in 2024. A win for Boulter would set up a second-round clash with Pegula, who recently won her second WTA title of the season in Charleston. The tournament will feature top seed Jannik Sinner, who has 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 additional cost.