Alcaraz through to Australian Open quarters after Draper retires

Ian Ransom - Reuters - 19/01
It was the second time Draper had retired injured against Alcaraz, having cut short their 2023 match at Indian Wells due to an abdominal strain.
MELBOURNE, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Carlos Alcaraz reached his second Australian Open quarter-final after injury-hampered opponent Jack Draper retired while trailing 7-5 6-1 on Sunday.
Third seed Alcaraz was well on top in the afternoon match at Rod Laver Arena when Briton Draper decided he could not continue with the troublesome hip he had managed through three five-set matches at the tournament.
"This is not the way that I want to get through to the next round. I'm just happy to play another quarter-final here in Australia," Alcaraz said on court.
"But really sorry for Jack. He doesn't deserve to get injured."
It was the second time Draper had retired injured against Alcaraz, having cut short their 2023 match at Indian Wells due to an abdominal strain.
Draper said he felt his hip tendinitis worsen after the third game and worried the injury was like a "ticking time-bomb".
"I just need to be sensible because there is no escape from it, especially here or whatever, you know, the tennis schedule is so tight," he said.
French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz will meet the winner of 10-times champion Novak Djokovic and Jiri Lehecka, who were playing in the evening session.
Draper had plans to train with Alcaraz in southern Spain during the off-season but had to cancel them and pull out of the United Cup team ...
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