Jack Draper advanced to the last-16 of the Madrid Open after Matteo Berrettini retired due to injury after losing the first-set tiebreak.
The Italian appeared to be struggling with his oblique muscles from his previous match and went to shake Draper’s hand after the British No 1 won the decider 7-2.
Draper looked to be surprised as he turned around to see Berrettini with his hand extended, but he explained afterwards that he had noticed he was struggling.
Berrettini has had a horrid run of injuries since reaching the Wimbledon final in 2021, and now faces a race to be fit for his home tournament at the Italian Open next week.
And Draper, who is seeded fifth in Madrid and will play American Tommy Paul in the next round, sent his best wishes to Berrettini after he was forced to retire.
He told Sky Sports: “I’m aware that he had a problem in his last match, towards the end. Matteo is always so positive and full of energy and today I noticed that he wasn’t, so that maybe gave away that he was feeling something.
“His serve power was a bit down, but Matteo still competed really hard. He put on a high level still. I wish him all the best because I’ve got to know him a little bit and he’s a great guy and a great player too.”
Draper has faced Paul, the 11th seed, fifth times already in his career, winning three and losing two.
But the American has won the matches that have mattered most to Draper, including last encounter to knock the Briton out of Queen’s last summer, and he also beat him at the Australian Open in 2024.
“Tommy is a great competitor, someone who always shows up and plays well against me,” Draper said. “We have played a few times now and last time he got me at Queen’s, which hurt a lot.”
