Draper and Raducanu Withdrawals Cast Shadow Over British Wimbledon Start

LONDON - Britain's Jack Draper withdrew from Wimbledon on Monday due to a recurrence of an arm injury, a day after former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu also pulled out.

"Devastated to share that I have had to withdraw... as there is no greater honour for a British player than playing at Wimbledon," the 24-year-old said.

Draper, the former world number four, was replaced in the draw by Serbian lucky loser Dusan Lajovic. He had been scheduled to play American world number seven Taylor Fritz.

Raducanu, 23, withdrew Sunday due to a stress fracture in her lower right leg.

The opening day saw a string of British losses. Harriet Dart lost in three sets to 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. Other early British exits included Mika Stojsavljevic, Max Basing, and wildcard Felix Gill.