Jack Draper’s highly anticipated return to professional tennis was cut short at the Dubai Tennis Championships, as he fell in the second round to Arthur Rinderknech. This match marked Draper’s first competitive outing since the US Open, where he faced numerous setbacks due to injury. Despite putting up a commendable fight over two hours and 26 minutes, he was edged out with a final score of 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-4.
The British number one, currently ranked 15 after climbing to a career-high of 4 last year, started strong following his first-round victory against 68th-ranked Quentin Halys. However, Draper was unable to capitalize on two early break points during the 11th game of the first set, allowing Rinderknech to seize the opportunity and take the set.
In the second set, Draper found himself under pressure but managed to rally back, saving three break points to tie at 3-3, ultimately winning the tiebreak to level the match. Unfortunately for Draper, Rinderknech secured a critical break early in the third set that he could not overcome.
Rinderknech’s victory sets him up for a challenging quarter-final match against fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev. Rublev also faced a tough road to the last eight, beating former Dubai champion Ugo Humbert with a score of 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3.
In another intriguing upset, Dutch player Tallon Griekspoor eliminated second-seeded Alexander Bublik with a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory, securing his place in the quarter-finals. Griekspoor took advantage of Bublik’s serve error in the second game for an early break, and he maintained that momentum throughout the match, fending off three break points in a critical moment during the second set.
Griekspoor will now face sixth seed Jakub Mensik, who advanced with a dominant performance against Alexei Popyrin, winning 6-3, 6-2 to notch his 13th victory of the season.
Four additional seeded players also booked their spots in the quarter-finals on Wednesday: Daniil Medvedev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Andrey Rublev, and Jiri Lehecka.
Medvedev, the third seed and defending champion from 2023, showcased his form by defeating 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3, setting up a next-round clash with American Jenson Brooksby, who triumphed over seventh seed Karen Khachanov 7-6(6), 6-4.
Auger-Aliassime, the tournament’s top seed, secured a smooth victory against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, winning 6-4, 6-4. He will face eighth seed Jiri Lehecka next, who overcame Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6(6), 6-4 to advance further in the tournament.
With competitive matches ahead, the Dubai Tennis Championships continues to showcase thrilling tennis action as players vie for a coveted title.
