Madrid Open: Jack Draper pulls out of competition with Katie Boulter set to face Taylor Townsend in first round
Jack Draper is the latest high-profile star to withdraw from the Madrid Open; Katie Boulter will play Taylor Townsend in the first round; Watch the ATP and WTA Tours live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app
Monday 20 April 2026 12:01, UK
The draws have been set for the Mutua Madrid Open, which begins on Tuesday live on Sky Sports.
Despite entering the draw, Britain's Jack Draper pulled out of the competition as he recovers from the knee injury that curtailed his involvement in the Barcelona Open.
Draper is the latest star name to withdraw from the event, following the likes of Emma Raducanu, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
- Emma Raducanu withdraws from Madrid Open
- Alcaraz, Djokovic out of Madrid Open due to injury
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He will also miss next month's Italian Open, but the 2024 US Open semi-finalist is targeting the French Open in May.
"An aggravated tendon in my knee means I am not able to play in Madrid and Rome," the 24-year-old said in a statement.
"It's frustrating for sure but I am thankful it isn't anything more serious, recovery is going well and I feel good about my chances of being fit for Roland Garros. I am looking forward to building momentum from there."
Britain's Cameron Norrie is set to take part and he gets a first-round bye. Norrie made the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open last week after a second-round outing at Monte Carlo.
Katie Boulter begins her campaign against American Taylor Townsend in the first round before a potential meeting with fifth seed Jessica Pegula.
The British No 3 reached the quarter-finals in Rouen last week and will be hoping to build on those positive results.
Boulter has defeated Townsend in all three of their previous meetings, but they haven't played since Beijing in 2024. Townsend did reach the final of the ATX Open WTA 250 in February and has been in good form this season.
A win would see Boulter play Pegula in the second round, with the American coming off the back of her second WTA title of the season in Charleston.
Although Alcaraz and Djokovic are notable absentees, Jannik Sinner is the top seed. He also gets a bye in the first round.
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