Wimbledon 2025: Jack Draper into second round after Sebastian Baez retirement
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Britain’s Jack Draper came through the opening round at Wimbledon against Sebastian Baez in just over 75 minutes after the world No.38 retired trailing by two sets.
A slip from Baez in the second set caused the Argentinian issues with his right knee and with the Brit leading 6-2, 6-2, 2-1, and up a break, he decided to call it a day.
Despite the retirement, Draper had played lights out tennis for the first two sets and it was a strong start to his Wimbledon campaign following a semi-final run at the HSBC Championships two weeks ago.
While it wasn’t how he wanted to come through the opening round, Draper was pleased to make it through his opening match.
“I wanted to play a bit longer in all honesty,” Draper said on court after his match. “I was feeling like I was getting my tennis together – I was serving well, off the round it could have been cleaner. Obviously it’s no way to win like that and I wish Sebastian the best of recoveries of course.”
This year’s first round at Wimbledon has already seen a number of the top seeds from both the men’s and women’s draws bow out in shock defeats, including the likes of world No.3 Alexander Zverev, Lorenzo Musetti, Holger Rune to name a few – so there were warning signs for Draper coming into this match.
With the increasing talk coming into this week about the mounting pressure on the British No.1, the way Draper was able to dominate this year’s ATP 500 Rio de Janeiro champion in the first two sets was even more impressive.
You can’t think about any of that stuff you just have to come out here, give my best and do all the right things to play the best tennis I can. I’m really looking forward to this next week or so – it’s going to be great.
“I don’t think about it (pressure) until everyone mentions it every five minutes,” he joked. “I just try and focus on the things I can control, that’s what I’ve always tried to do.
“You can’t think about any of that stuff you just have to come out here, give my best and do all the right things to play the best tennis I can. I’m really looking forward to this next week or so – it’s going to be great.”
The world No.4 moves on to play former US Open champion, Wimbledon runner-up and this year’s Lexus Nottingham Open title winner, Marin Cilic in the second round.
Draper will be looking to reach the third round at SW19 for the first time in his career on Thursday.
Notably, 28th seed and recent Halle champion Alexander Bublik – who Draper could have met in the third round – bowed out in five sets to Spain’s Jaume Munar. However, Draper insists he’s taking each match one at a time.
“I’ve got to face whoever is in front of me,” he said. “I can’t be thinking five matches ahead, you have to win the matches to get there. I focus on each player as it comes. Each player that’s in this draw is in off their own merit and can play incredible tennis. I play point by point and until I deserve a place in the next round, I’m not there yet.”
Draper wasted no time in taking the early advantage – dominating the rallies on Baez's opening service game with his big lefty forehand and eventually drawing out an error from the world No.38 on his first break point.
Just four games later he was at it again, securing the double break and looking increasingly comfortable out on the No.1 Court.
Baez had only played two exhibition matches on grass coming into Wimbledon and hasn’t made it past the first round in his last five competitive tournaments.
The lack of confidence both in his game and on the surface was prevalent in the first set, with the Argentinian making 13 unforced errors to hand Draper the set in just 27 minutes.
Draper continued to ascend early in the second. The fourth seed fired a forehand rocket down the line for a winner to eventually take another break – but Baez took a fall which led him to call for the medic at the change of ends.
After some treatment, Baez decided to continue playing, however, he couldn’t match the level of the 23-year-old Brit, who blasted a 19th winner to go a double break to the good and eventually lead 5-1.
Once he lost his service game in the third game of the third set, Baez decided to call it a day, handing a quick win to the British hopeful.
He was the second British man to come through on day two so far - joining former Davis Cup teammate Dan Evans.
