Devastating Draper woes as Brit retires injured at Winston-Salem Open mere weeks after return to action post injury

Jack Draper suffers from injuries once again and withdraws from the Winston Salem Open during his match with Tallon Griekspoor.

The 21-year-old British player has been plagued by constant injury problems this year. After getting injured in the round of 16 at Indian Wells against Carlos Alcaraz, he was sidelined for a month before returning in Monte-Carlo.

He then spent another month and a half out due to injuries and made his comeback in the first round of the French Open, only to retire once again, this time during a match against Tomas Etcheverry in the opening round.

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After almost three months, he returned last week at the Winnipeg Challenger, winning two matches and losing in the quarterfinals to Arthur Cazaux. However, bad news struck again for Draper.

At the ATP 250 Salem Open, he decisively defeated Nuno Borges in the opening round with a score of 6-3, 6-1, advancing to the second round to face Tallon Griekspoor. After a tough first set that Griekspoor won in a tiebreaker (7-6(8)), Draper had to retire from the tournament.

Ranked as World No. 118, he returned to an ATP-level tournament after three months and spoke to the ATP Tour's website before the tournament:

"I think with these sorts of injuries, especially the tendons, you need to be careful with them," Draper told the ATP Tour's website.

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"It takes time and you have to rehab them properly. I wouldn't say I am completely out of the woods.

"I have to keep on doing the right things for it and hopefully, it will be okay and keep improving week by week," he added.

Draper is entered in the main draw of the US Open, which starts on August 28. It is still uncertain whether the injury will allow him to play at Flushing Meadows or if he will miss yet another Grand Slam.