Draper sets up Bergs clash after winning first US Open match

Overview

• Jack Draper registered a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (7-9), 6-2 win over Federico Agustin Gomez in his first-round clash at the US Open.
• The match also marked Draper’s return to singles action since Wimbledon.
• He had been sidelined with an arm injury.

Jack Draper registered a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (7-9), 6-2 win over Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez in his first-round clash at the US Open. The match also marked Draper’s return to singles action since Wimbledon, as he had been sidelined with an arm injury.

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The 23-year-old sounded pleased after the victory, even though he dropped the third set in a tight tiebreak. Draper admitted that it was more about regaining match rhythm than anything else.

"I needed tennis in my legs. I needed to play a three-hour match," Draper said. "I was almost a bit happy when I lost the third because my level wasn't amazing. Then I felt like towards the end of the fourth I started to get better and better."

"I'm so happy to be able to compete." - Draper

Asked about his recovery, Draper confessed he was uncertain whether he would even compete in New York.

"I wasn't too sure if I was going to make it here," he said. "I'm not putting too much expectation on myself. I'm so happy to be able to compete."

Draper missed the recent ATP Masters 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati due to his arm problem. Ahead of his US Open opener, he had explained that while the injury required some adjustments, it would not hold him back.

"I've definitely had to rein in my serve a little bit to keep the pain down," Draper revealed. "At the same time, though, I feel like my accuracy is almost a bit better."

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With the win, Draper booked a second-round clash against Belgium’s Zizou Bergs on August 27. Bergs advanced after defeating Taiwan’s Tseng Chun-hsin 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.