British Star Progresses to Round of 16 After Matteo Berrettini’s Injury Withdrawal
Jack Draper is through to the round of 16 at the Madrid Open after his opponent Matteo Berrettini was forced to retire due to injury. The match had been halted on Monday due to a nationwide power cut, which knocked out the electronic line-calling system and the scoreboards at the venue. After power was restored on Tuesday morning, play resumed, with Draper already ahead in the match.
The British fifth seed was in control after winning the opening set in a tense tie-breaker, 7-6, after 57 minutes of play. The 21-year-old eventually secured the set after converting his third set point opportunity. However, just as the first set concluded, Berrettini withdrew from the match, citing an abdominal issue.
“I could tell something was wrong because he said his abs were pulling,” Draper explained after the match. “It’s always tough to see a friend dealing with an injury. He’s a very positive player, and I admire how he handled the first set despite being clearly uncomfortable.”
This victory sees Draper advance to face American Tommy Paul in the next round, as he looks to continue his impressive run at this year’s Madrid Open.
Power Outage Disrupts Play, But Draper Seizes Opportunity
The Spanish capital was left in the dark on Monday after a nationwide power cut disrupted the tournament at the Caja Mágica, with the electronic systems essential for the matches going offline. Play was suspended just after 5:00 PM, and despite hopes for a quick return, the disruption lasted well into the night. The delayed resumption on Tuesday morning was met with relief as fans and players alike anxiously awaited the continuation of the action.
For Draper, the power outage meant an extended break before he could resume his match against the Italian Berrettini, who entered the match as the 30th seed. After a 57-minute first set, which saw the British star edge a tight tie-breaker, it became evident that Berrettini’s injury would prevent him from continuing. Despite this unfortunate turn, Draper remained composed, and the victory marked another step forward for the promising young player.
“It’s always unfortunate to win like this, especially when you see how much hard work a player like Matteo puts into the game,” Draper said. “I’m just thankful that I could take my opportunities when they came.”
Grigor Dimitrov Fights Through for Quarter-Final Spot
While Draper advanced without having to play a full match, others battled through to secure their places in the quarter-finals. Grigor Dimitrov, for instance, managed to convert his third match point over 24 hours after their match had been interrupted due to the power outage.
Dimitrov was leading Jacob Fearnley 6-4 5-4 when the power failure hit on Monday. The pair resumed the match on Tuesday, with Fearnley facing the daunting task of serving to stay in the match. Despite a double fault early on, the British underdog showed impressive resilience, forcing a tie-breaker after Dimitrov failed to close out the match at 6-5.
However, the 16th-ranked Dimitrov stepped up in the tie-breaker, taking control and winning the final five points in a row to seal a 6-4 7-6 (7-3) win. The Bulgarian will now face Canada’s Gabriel Diallo in the next round, after Diallo made an unexpected comeback to defeat Britain’s Cameron Norrie 2-6 6-4 6-4. Diallo, who entered the tournament as a lucky loser, continued his fairy-tale run, having won in spectacular fashion.
Zverev Upset in the Round of 16
There was a significant upset on Tuesday evening, as men’s top seed Alexander Zverev fell to 20th-ranked Francisco Cerundolo in straight sets. The Argentine Cerundolo won 7-5 6-3, with Zverev unable to convert any of his break point opportunities. The loss was a major shock, given Zverev’s top-seed status, but Cerundolo’s impressive performance sees him through to the quarter-finals, where he will face Dimitrov for a spot in the semi-finals.
Zverev, who has been a consistent presence in the men’s game, will now have to regroup after his early exit, while Cerundolo has proven that he is a force to be reckoned with on the ATP tour.
Iga Świątek Struggles But Progresses
In the women’s draw, defending champion Iga Świątek also secured her spot in the quarter-finals, but not without a fight. The Polish world number one won her match against Russia’s Diana Shnaider in a hard-fought 6-0 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 victory. Świątek was far from her best, committing over 50 unforced errors throughout the match. Despite the struggles, she showed resilience, saving 11 of the 13 break points she faced.
Świątek will face American Madison Keys in the next round. Keys, who had a memorable run to the Australian Open semi-finals earlier this year, secured her place in the quarter-finals with a convincing 6-2 6-3 win over Croatia’s Donna Vekić. Świątek will be hoping to return to top form in the next round as she looks to defend her Madrid Open title.
The Women’s Draw: Swiatek and Sabalenka Prepare for Battle
With top-ranked Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka also set to take the court later in the day, the women’s draw promises to deliver more exciting action. Sabalenka, who has been in strong form this season, will be hoping to continue her run as she looks to challenge Świątek and Keys for the title in Madrid. Sabalenka’s powerful game and aggressive baseline play make her a tough opponent for anyone on the WTA tour.
Meanwhile, in the men’s draw, attention shifts to the upcoming quarter-finals as the remaining players prepare for the battle to secure a spot in the semi-finals. With top contenders like Dimitrov, Cerundolo, and the emerging talent of Diallo in the mix, the competition at the Madrid Open has certainly heated up.
