New York, Aug 26 (UNI) British number one Jack Draper said he was “almost a bit happy” to drop a set as he was put through a severe examination of his fitness on his US Open return.
Draper needed to dig deep to beat Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez 6-4 7-5 6-7 (7-9) 6-2 in the first round.
The fifth seed, who reached the New York semi-finals last year, was playing his first singles match since Wimbledon in early July after suffering an arm injury.
“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.”
Draper, 23, is seen as one of the contenders for the title on his return to the scene of his breakout Grand Slam run. While not quite at his reliable and powerful best, the left-handed Englishman was ultimately content with how he largely negated Gomez’s explosive game.
Draper soaked up a lot of pressure at the baseline, asking questions that his 203rd-ranked opponent was not able to answer consistently. After saving a match point in the tie-break, Gomez managed to extend the contest before Draper regrouped to seal victory with his second match point.
“I wasn’t too sure if I was going to make it here,” Draper said when asked about the injury. “I’m not putting too much expectation on myself. I’m so happy to be able to compete.”
Fellow Briton Cameron Norrie is also through to the second round after American opponent Sebastian Korda was forced to retire injured, according to a BBC news.
