Simona Halep withdraws; Novak Djokovic faces Britain’s Jack Draper

Simona Halep and Novak Djokovic

Defending champion Simona Halep pulled out of Wimbledon with a calf injury as Novak Djokovic learned Friday he will face Britain's Jack Draper at the start of his quest for a 20th Grand Slam title. Romanian Halep, who beat Serena Williams in the final in 2019, tore her left calf muscle in Rome last month and was forced to miss the French Open. She travelled to London earlier this week but announced her withdrawal minutes before the draw for the championships, which return on Monday after they were cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"I can honestly say that I'm really down and upset about having to take this decision," said the World No. 3. "This period has been difficult but to miss the last two Majors has made it even more challenging mentally and physically." Halep's withdrawal follows that of four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who pulled out of the French Open after citing struggles with depression and anxiety.

World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, who was forced to retire from her second-round match at Roland Garros with a hip injury, opens her campaign against Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro, who is playing her final Wimbledon before retirement after recovering from cancer. French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova takes on Dane Clara Tauson, with the Czech star bidding to win the one Grand Slam singles title her late former coach and idol Jana Novotna won, in 1998.

Serena Williams is seeking to equal Margaret Court's Grand Slam record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles after missing out on equalling the mark on multiple occasions in recent years.

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