British Tennis Shock: Evans Crashes Out as Draper Takes Bold Stand!
Britain’s Dan Evans suffered a disappointing first-round exit at the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships, losing to Russia’s Karen Khachanov in straight sets. Despite having won all five of their previous encounters, including an epic five-and-a-half-hour battle at last year’s US Open, Evans couldn’t find his rhythm this time. World number 24 Khachanov dominated with a 6-1, 6-3 victory in just one hour and 20 minutes.
Khachanov will now move on to face either Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in the second round. Meanwhile, Evans, who received a wildcard entry into the tournament, will have to regroup after an early exit.
Jack Draper Withdraws to Manage Workload
Britain’s rising star Jack Draper has withdrawn from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships to focus on his recovery after a demanding week in Qatar. The 23-year-old, who reached the final of the Qatar Open before falling to Andrey Rublev in a hard-fought three-set match, cited the need to manage his body and sustain his form throughout the season.
Draper, set to break into the world’s top 12, took to social media platform X to announce his decision, stating:
“Unfortunately, I have made the decision to withdraw from Dubai Duty Free. After a great week at the Qatar Open Tennis, I’m taking on board advice to prioritize my recovery and manage my body after a number of long matches, and give myself the best chance of competing consistently throughout the year. I’m gutted not to compete at such an amazing event but will look forward to returning to competition at BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open.”
What’s Next for British Tennis?
With Draper focused on recovery and Dan Evans exiting early, British hopes in Dubai now rest elsewhere. Draper’s next competitive action is expected at the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open, where he will look to build on his impressive start to the season. As Evans recalibrates after his loss, British tennis fans will keep an eye on how both players navigate the packed ATP calendar.
