Jack Draper made a commanding return to competitive tennis on Thursday, dispatching Norway’s Viktor Durasovic 6-2 6-2 to hand Great Britain a 1-0 advantage in their Davis Cup qualifying encounter in Oslo.
The British number one had been absent from the court for 164 days following a bruised bone in his service arm.
His comeback required just 61 minutes to complete, with the world number 13 demonstrating sharp movement and powerful shot-making throughout.
“It’s been a difficult time but I knew I had to keep on practising and keep learning about myself,” the 24-year-old reflected afterwards.
Jack Draper swept past Viktor Durasovic 6-2 6-2 to hand Great Britain a 1-0 advantage in their Davis Cup
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GETTY
The ranking disparity of 300 places between the players suggested a comfortable afternoon, and Draper duly obliged.
The Englishman acknowledged experiencing “lots of dark moments” during the extended period away from competition.
His injury troubles derailed what had been a breakthrough campaign on the ATP Tour.
Prior to the setback in his left arm, Draper had claimed the prestigious Masters 1,000 crown at Indian Wells and progressed to the fourth round at both the Australian and French Opens.
Wimbledon proved a bitter disappointment, with a second-round exit followed by just a single further match before he curtailed his season prematurely.
Jack Draper has had five months out through injury, playing just one singles match since Wimbledon
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REUTERS
The 24-year-old was forced to withdraw from January’s Australian Open to ensure his recovery was complete, with his return delayed twice by the persistent problem.
Against Durasovic, the British number one displayed remarkable precision from the service line, conceding merely 10 points on his delivery throughout the contest.
Eight aces punctuated his performance, whilst an impressive 88 per cent of first-serve points fell his way.
Perhaps most tellingly, Draper never faced a single break point across the two sets.
He secured an early break in both frames and maintained complete control thereafter.
The only moment of mild tension arrived when serving for the match at 5-2 in the second set, where he was taken to deuce for the sole occasion.
A thunderous forehand swiftly resolved matters.
Jack Draper is yet to win a Grand Slam title | GETTY
Draper was accompanied in Oslo by a substantial Lawn Tennis Association contingent, alongside his new coach Jamie Delgado.
The presence of Delgado marked a notable occasion, as personal coaches rarely attend Davis Cup fixtures.
This represented the first opportunity for Delgado to observe his charge in competitive action since replacing James Trotman during the autumn.
The pair are set to travel to Rotterdam following the conclusion of this tie, where Draper will resume his ATP Tour commitments.
Managing his workload over the coming months will require careful calibration, balancing competitive ambitions against the need for adequate rest.
