Jack Draper has pulled out of Wimbledon just 24 hours before he was due to play his first-round match, citing a recurrence of the painful arm injury which has hampered him over the last 12 months.
He had been scheduled to play Taylor Fritz on Centre Court on Tuesday but now joins compatriot Emma Raducanu, who pulled out of Wimbledon late Sunday night after confirming an injury “niggle” in her lower right leg “developed into a stress fracture”. The British No 1 had been scheduled to play Antonia Ruzic in the opening match on Court No 1.
It is the latest blow to the 23-year-old in what has been a difficult season for the former US Open champion, as well as the tournament as a whole. It marks the second time in four years that Raducanu has missed her home grand slam due to injury, while Draper’s withdrawal is another major setback for a player who was seeded fourth this time last year.
On the opening Monday, defending champion Jannik Sinner begins play on Centre Court, with the men’s No 1 starting his title defence against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic. Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic also headline Centre Court.
After Raducanu’s withdrawal, several British players will have the chance to shine on day one, including men’s No 1 Cameron Norrie and women’s No 3 Fran Jones. There were early defeats, though, for Mika Stojsavljevic, Felix Gill and Max Basing.
Follow latest scores and updates from Wimbledon, below:
Jack Draper withdraws from Wimbledon
Jack Draper has withdrawn from Wimbledon just 24 hours before he was scheduled to play his first-round match.
He reached the semi-finals at Eastbourne last week but has now pulled out of his home grand slam after a recurrence of the arm injury which brought a premature end to his 2025 season.
The British No 3 was the fourth seed at Wimbledon a year ago but is now 131st in the world rankings and was unseeded at this year’s tournament after a steep fall down the rankings following a year of persistent injury troubles.
Bone bruising in his serving arm caused him to pull out of the US Open and this January’s Australian Open, while he also missed Roland-Garros with a knee issue he picked up this spring.
He had been slated to play sixth seed Taylor Fritz in the first round but the American will now advance via walkover.
Denis Shapovalov retires from Wimbledon match after crashing into barrier
Former Wimbledon semi-finalist Denis Shapovalov withdrew from his first-round match after crashing into a barrier and injuring his shoulder.
The Canadian chased down a forehand at 7-7 in the second-set tiebreak against Pablo Carreno Busta and was unable to come to a halt before crashing into the protective sheet covering the walls around Court 6.
He immediately pulled up in pain and called for medical treatment, with the umpire and Carreno Busta both running to check on him.
The tiebreak resumed after he received attention from a physio. He played one more point, conceding the breaker 9-7 as he sent a forehand into the net, and called for more medical treatment, still in visible pain.
The 27-year-old then decided to retire from the match and appeared to tell Carreno Busta, “Sorry man, I think I f***ed it.”
FIRST SET! Miomir Kecmanovic wins opening set against Jannik Sinner
Wow. That’s a shock! Miomir Kecmanovic wins nine points in a row to win the first set against Jannik Sinner, the defending men’s champion. Sinner’s game fell apart, with a couple of double faults while at 4-4. Plenty of errors from Sinner but Kecmanovic, the world No 50, has taken advantage.
Is a shock on the cards after Sinner’s second-round French Open exit?
French Open runner-up knocked out in Wimbledon first round
Maja Chwalinska, the French Open qualifier who reached the final at Roland Garros in a stunning run last month, was knocked out of Wimbledon in the first round by Mananchaya Sawangkaew.
Chwalinska made history by becoming the first play to advance to the French Open final as a qualifier, losing to Mirra Andreeva while ranked as the world No 114 in Paris.
Due to Chwalinska’s history run, the Polish player as in the extremely rare position of requiring a wildcard to play Wimbledon but entering the draw as the 20th seed.
However, the 24-year-old crashed down to earrth as she lost 2-6 7-5 6-2 to the Thai qualifier Sawangkaew, who is ranked 164th in the world.
Chwalinska became just the second to ever make a grand slam final as a qualifier, after Emma Raducanu at the US Open in 2021.
Novak Djokovic praises Serena Williams ahead of Wimbledon comeback: ‘Its epic’
Novak Djokovic called Serena Williams an “inspiration” as the 23-time grand slam prepares to make what he called an “epic” comeback at the age of 44.
Djokovic revealed he had seen Williams in the gym more often this week than compared to her prime and is excited to see how she performs.
“What she’s doing is inspirational and it’s epic. That’s what I told her. I always admired her career, her journey, her story. Of course, Venus’, as well.
“For her to come back after years of being absent from the tour, two children later, and to give so much effort to, not just for her own satisfaction or coming back on the tour, but also to give all of us a pleasure of seeing her back on the court – in singles as well as doubles – is remarkable.
“I told her that whatever happens, what she’s doing is truly inspirational for me personally, I’m sure for millions around the world.
“I see her in the gym more than I have, I think, seen her when she was at her prime. It tells me that she really wants this to work out the best way possible.”
Jannik Sinner underway in front of David Beckham and Mary Berry
There were gasps round Centre Court as Jannik Sinner put a routine forehand wide, and the world No 1 was left to face two break points in his opening game against Miomir Kecmanovic.
He found a bullet serve, then a clipped forehand winner. Kecmanovic then shanked a smash and Sinner got out of trouble. He’s looking a little erratic in these early stages.
David Beckham and Mary Berry are watching on from the front row of the Royal Box. Beckham is with his mum.
Jelena Ostapenko wins first set against Harriet Dart
Despite a warning from the umpire over mobile phone use during play the sound of a ringtone disturbs Jelena Ostapenko as she’s about to serve – although she, and the crowd, see the funny side.
Some more fierce hitting from the Latvian, and a down-the-line winner, wraps up the set. She leads Harriet Dart 6-3.
The good news for the home crowd is that Dart seems to be moving well after that early injury scare.
Cameron Norrie wins first-set tiebreak against Michael Zheng
A roar from Cameron Norrie as he battles through a tense first-set tiebreak against qualifier Michael Zheng to win the opening set on Court No 1.
Zheng broke Norrie when he served for the set, that made it awkward in the tiebreak by saving set points. That would have been a blow to the British No 1 to lose that, but he perseveres.
It’s clear he’s landed a tough draw, though, in the 22-year-old American. Zheng is still a college student but has qualified for all three grand slams this year.
Harriet Dart breaks back
Over on No 1 Court, that medical treatment Harriet Dart received appears to have done her some good. She lost the game immediately after but has broken Ostapenko, who is beginning to be a little loose with her shots, back to 15, and now trails 4-1.
Jannik Sinner returns to Wimbledon as defending champion
This is the moment Jannik Sinner has been waiting a year for. The defending men’s champion steps back onto Centre Court to open play against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic.
It’s an honour, and tradition, for the men’s champion to open play. Sinner is the heavy favourite to win but will be playing his first match since his shock second round defeat at the French Open.
The good news for Sinner is that it’s not a very hot day in London. The heatwave has passed, and it’s comfortable.
