Draper Falls in Cincinnati Open First Round

Jack Draper's comeback from a lengthy injury layoff suffered another setback on Thursday as the British player was eliminated in the first round of the Cincinnati Open, losing 6-3, 7-5 to Spain's Martin Landaluce. The defeat, which saw Draper collapse after holding a commanding lead in the second set, further complicates his path to the upcoming US Open.

Draper, a former world No. 4 and 2024 US Open semifinalist, entered the Masters 1000 event on a wildcard after missing Wimbledon due to bone bruising in his arm. His ranking has plummeted to No. 143 following a season disrupted by injuries to his arm and knee. The match in Cincinnati was only his second since returning to the tour at the Canadian Open in Montreal last week, where he broke down in tears during a loss to Terence Atmane.

The 24-year-old appeared to be finding his rhythm early in the match, hitting a 130 mph ace to hold serve after being broken in the first game. However, he committed 12 double faults throughout the contest. After losing the first set 6-3, Draper staged a strong comeback, breaking Landaluce immediately at the start of the second set and racing to a 5-2 lead. With victory in sight, his energy levels...