British star Jack Draper has made a profitable return after being sidelined for a prolonged spell by damage.
Enjoying for the primary time since having to withdraw from the US Open final yr, Draper is representing Nice Britain in opposition to Norway in Davis Cup qualifying.
He beat Viktor Durasovic in straight units, 6-2 6-2, dominating his opponent and changing his second match level to place Britain forward within the tie.
The British No 1 has performed only one match since Wimbledon final July, with bone bruising in his left arm curbing his 2025 season fully and ruling him out of the Australian Open final month.
The 24-year-old has been dogged by severe damage earlier than, lacking six months of the 2023 season on account of a shoulder drawback that required a number of operations, however the nature of this newest damage has confirmed much more troublesome to cope with.
To return to motion with a victory might be heartening for him.
Draper discusses his break day from tennis on account of damage and his return to the courts within the Davis Cup
Afterwards, Draper stated: “It is good to get a match below my belt and get a primary level for Nice Britain.
“It is taken arduous work and perseverance. It has been a extremely troublesome time since I have been away from the game however I’ve finished the arduous work nobody sees and after I come again hopefully I can play some correct tennis once more.”
This was the proper smooth relaunch for Draper in opposition to a Norway group lacking their prime participant, world No 12 Casper Ruud, an absence the equal of taking Erling Haaland out of the nationwide soccer group.
Ruud’s comprehensible withdrawal – his spouse gave beginning to their first daughter a number of days in the past – was solely introduced 10 minutes earlier than the draw ceremony on Wednesday, as soon as the two,000-seater Nadderud Area had bought out.
However, there was nonetheless the possibility for the Norwegian crowd to see the participant who rose to 4 on this planet final June and had regarded among the many probably to problem the Carlos Alcaraz-Jannik Sinner duopoly, till his damage was identified after Wimbledon.
Draper’s strengths, his potent left-hand serve and highly effective forehand, had been compromised by the damage. However, albeit whereas carrying a protecting sleeve, he gave the impression to be swinging freely right here.
It was arduous to gauge exactly what Draper’s stage is in opposition to Durasovic, ranked a lowly 313. Nevertheless, eight aces, simply 10 factors dropped on serve and a wholesome smattering of forehand winners was actually an encouraging begin.
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