Jack Draper upon returning to the ATP tour has registered a morale-boosting win at Winston-Salem Open just before heading to the final major of the year.
The rising Brit has to skip the entire grass swing including Wimbledon after sustaining a shoulder injury at Roland Garros. He recorded a tentative return at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Winnipeg, Canada where he notched straight sets R16 and R32 victories before bowing down in quarters.
On Monday, the 21-year old made his long-awaited ATP return to face Nuno Borges in the R1 of Winston-Salem Open and cemented a much needed 6-3, 6-1 win.
“I played a really clean match. The guy is a really good player, so is everyone on this level,” Draper said. “It’s good to be back here in Winston. I had amazing memories here last year, so I’m happy to be back.”
Draper, who has plummeted to ATP #118 following his extended absence from the tour, edged past the likes of Fabio Fognini and Dominic Thiem as he marched to the quarters of 250-level event last year.
He dropped only two points on serve in the first frame and broke in games seven and nine. In the second set, he once again picked up the double break advantage by converting BPs in fourth and sixth game. Putting up a serving clinic, he maintained 96% (26/27) of points on first serve.
“I think my serve was amazing today. I kept on putting pressure on him on my return games,” the left-hander said. “Last week [when I returned on the ATP Challenger Tour], I wasn’t too sharp when I first started back playing. But hopefully I can build on this performance and show you guys some good tennis all week.”
Draper hit #38 in the ATP rankings in January, thanks to some impressive runs at the last season’s US Open (3rd round), a maiden quarterfinal appearance at Masters 1000 (Toronto Masters) and a semifinal result at the ATP 250 Eastbourne International.
The victory will definitely raise the confidence of big-serving Brit ahead of the New York major which kicks off next week however, in Winston-Salem, he will go through a real test in the form of in form Dutch, Tallon Griekspoor.
Meanwhile, Sebastian Baez, the 6th Seed at the ATP-250 tourney moved into R3 following a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 triumph against Daniel Galan.