Jack Draper begins title defence with a hard-fought victory
Jack Draper has commenced his title defence at Indian Wells with a resilient three-set victory over Roberto Bautista Agut, successfully overcoming a slow start to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, reports BritPanorama.
This win is significant for Draper, who has been on the sidelines for eight months due to an arm injury. The British number one, currently ranked 14th in the world, needed one hour and 46 minutes to secure his place in round three.
Following the match, Draper acknowledged the challenges posed by his lengthy absence from competitive tennis. “It is good to be back somewhere I have great memories, but at the same time I was a little bit under-prepared because of the amount of tennis I have missed,” he said. “The injury I had wasn’t like a couple of weeks; it was eight months.” He admitted feeling somewhat out of rhythm, stating, “I do feel that. I feel a little bit off.”
The 24-year-old initially struggled in the first set, with several returns going awry. However, a shift in strategy at the start of the second set allowed him to break Bautista Agut early, leading to a more aggressive playstyle that paid off as he clinched the next two sets convincingly.
As the match progressed, Draper’s confidence grew. He surged to an early 2-0 lead in the second set and maintained momentum, breaking Bautista Agut twice in the final set despite facing three break-point opportunities. Draper held firm to secure the win, which he deemed critical for bolstering his return to the tour. “These wins are massive for me, especially on my return to the tour,” he noted.
Looking forward, Draper expressed optimism about refining his performance, suggesting that more matches will help enhance his consistency. “I am improving most days, so hopefully I can just carry on doing what I do with the right attitude,” he concluded. As Draper aims to regain his formidable form, this opening match serves as a promising step in his recovery journey.
