Jack Draper retires ill in deciding set of Mexican Open semi-final

Draper left the court 4-0 down in the final set.

Jack Draper retired from his semi-final against Alex de Minaur (Eduardo Verdugo, AP) (AP)

Jack Draper retired in the third set of his semi-final against Australian Alex de Minaur at the Mexican Open in Acapulco.

Draper left the court 4-0 down in the final set because of an undisclosed illness after he staged a strong comeback from a set down to the defending champion.

The Australian started strongly, taking the opener 6-3 and capitalising on four of six break points – the first set Draper had dropped in the tournament.

But the British number three staged a valiant comeback, winning the second set 6-2 with some strong returns.

His illness became an issue towards the end of the second set with the 22-year-old receiving treatment from the physiotherapist and tournament doctor.

Things only got worse in the third set as the Australian won four consecutive games before Draper retired from the match.

He later wrote on Instagram: “I hate to pull out but I was feeling really unwell today. Congrats to @alexdeminaur and good luck for the final!”

De Minaur said after the match that he wishes Draper a “speedy recovery”.

“He’s a hell of a player, a hell of a talent and I hope it’s nothing too serious,” he said.

De Minaur will play Norwegian Casper Ruud in the final after he defeated Denmark’s Holger Rune 3-6 6-3 6-4.