Draper Cruises Into Wimbledon Second Round After Baez Retirement
Jack Draper made a strong start to his Wimbledon campaign on Monday with a straight-sets lead before his opponent, Sebastian Baez, retired due to injury. The match ended after just over an hour with Draper leading 6-2, 6-2, 2-1 on Court One.
Baez, ranked 38th in the world, slipped on the baseline during the second set and required treatment. He attempted to continue but was forced to withdraw after one hour and 14 minutes. Draper expressed disappointment in the manner of the win but said he felt his game was improving as the match progressed.
“I wanted to play a bit longer, in all honesty,” Draper said. “I felt like I was starting to find my rhythm. It’s not the way anyone wants to win. I hope Sebastian recovers quickly.”
This year’s Wimbledon is Draper’s first as British No. 1 and his third main-draw win at the All England Club. The 23-year-old entered the tournament seeded fourth after a breakout year on the ATP Tour, which included a US Open semi-final and a title at Indian Wells.
With Andy Murray retired, Draper now carries the weight of British hopes. His presence on Court One drew a full crowd, with visible support from fans waving signs and cheering each point. Among those in the stands was Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who recently appeared alongside Draper in a fashion campaign.
Asked about rising expectations, Draper said, “I don’t think about pressure until people mention it every five minutes. I’m focused on what I can control. I want to win here more than anywhere.”
Despite the shortened match, Draper’s statistics underscored his dominance. He landed 78% of his first serves in the opening set and won 86% of those points. By the end of the match, he had taken 23 of 25 first-serve points, hitting four aces along the way.
His next opponent is Marin Cilic, the 2017 Wimbledon runner-up. At 36, Cilic brings experience on grass and will likely test Draper’s consistency.
Draper acknowledged he still has room to grow on the surface.
“I served well, though I could have been cleaner from the baseline,” he said. “I think I’ve got a lot more to unlock on grass, and that excites me. If there’s any tournament I want to win, it’s this one. I’m going to give everything to make it happen.”
Wimbledon continues through July 13 at the All England Club. Draper remains one of the top British contenders in the men’s draw.
