Australian Open 2025 results: Jack Draper retires against Carlos Alcaraz in Melbourne fourth round
Britain’s top player Jack Draper ran out of steam as Spanish third seed Carlos Alcaraz reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
No. 15 seed Draper retired while trailing four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz 5-7, 1-6 in the Melbourne heat.
The 23-year-old left-hander required off-court treatment after the first set before giving up the match at the end of the second set.
He raised his hands in apology to the crowd and left Rod Laver Arena to a standing ovation.
“This is not the way I want to win,” Alcaraz said.
“I’m happy to play another quarter-final in Australia but I feel bad for Jack – he shouldn’t have been injured.
“I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Draper endured three grueling five-set matches to reach the fourth round and is the only Briton to reach the top 16 of both men’s and women’s singles.
The 21-year-old Alcaraz is far from his best in the game, but he continues to strive to become the youngest player in the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam.
The reigning Wimbledon champion, 2022 US Open and 2024 French Open champion, could next face Novak Djokovic.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic is aiming for a record 11th men’s singles title in Australia when he takes on Czech Jiri Lehka later on Sunday.
