Monte Carlo Masters Opener: Jack Draper Falls to Hurkacz in First-Round Battle
At the Monte Carlo Masters, Britain’s Jack Draper faced a tough first-round battle against Hubert Hurkacz, ultimately succumbing to a narrow defeat in a closely contested clay-court encounter.
Ranked 39th in the world, Draper fought valiantly against the Polish 10th seed, ultimately losing 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2) in a match filled with tense moments. Despite breaking Hurkacz’s serve as he served for the game at 5-4 in the third set, Draper couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity and fell short in the ensuing tie-break.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic made a dominant start to his clay-court campaign, cruising to a comfortable 6-1, 6-2 victory over Roman Safiullin in his first match of the year on the surface. The world number one, aiming to peak for the Paris Olympics in the summer, demonstrated his prowess on clay as he seeks to add to his Monte Carlo title, which he last won in 2015.
Draper’s defeat marked the end of the British challenge in the singles competition, following earlier exits by Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans. Despite a commendable performance, Draper couldn’t maintain his momentum, falling short against a resilient opponent in Hurkacz.
Hurkacz, fresh off his clay-court title win at the Estoril Open, displayed resilience and determination to overcome Draper’s spirited challenge. Despite facing adversity, Hurkacz regrouped to secure victory and advance to the next round, where he would face Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut.
In a disappointing development, third seed Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament due to a muscle injury in his right forearm. The Wimbledon champion, slated to face Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, opted to withdraw to focus on recovery ahead of the Barcelona Open, where he is the defending champion.
As the Monte Carlo Masters unfolds, players continue to battle for supremacy on the clay courts, with each match presenting new challenges and opportunities for the competitors.
