Returning to ATP Tour territory for the first time since an inspirational US Open run, Jack Draper squares up to Italy's Mattia Bellucci in round one of the Japan Open on Thursday. The British number one experienced a disappointing Davis Cup campaign after reaching the last four in New York but will be the firm favourite against an opponent on the verge of breaking into the top 100. © Imago Emulating 2012 Andy Murray by becoming the first British man since the three-time major winner to reach the semi-finals of the US Open, Draper did not collapse under the weight of the occasion against Jannik Sinner , in spite of his distressing vomiting episodes.
The 22-year-old defied his unhappy stomach to valiantly fight on, but the might of the fully-fit world number one proved too challenging to overcome, as Draper's best-ever Grand Slam run to date ended with a semi-final exit to the eventual champion. Nevertheless, the latest zenith in Draper's burgeoning career carried the British number one into the top 20 of the ATP Tour rankings, and he had little time to dwell on his fabulous Flushing Meadows run, as he donned the GB strip for the Davis Cup Finals group stage. However, after such a gruelling week across the Atlantic, Draper was not operating at the peak of his powers; after being omitted from the opening bout with Finland, he suffered back-to-back losses to Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina and Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime , failing to win a set off either man.
Neither defeat.
