Jack Draper marks injury return with Davis Cup win over Viktor Durasovic
• 3 minute read
Jack Draper’s return from injury went perfectly to plan as the British No.1 secured a comfortable win over Norway’s Viktor Durasovic at the Davis Cup.
In his first match of the year, Draper put on a clinic to beat Durasovic 6-2, 6-2 in front of a packed out crowd in Oslo.
Draper has been dealing with an arm injury that has kept him on the sidelines for five months, since Wimbledon in July.
The Briton had tried to make his comeback at the US Open, but was forced to withdraw in the second round and then made the decision not to travel to the Australian Open in January.
The 24-year-old has taken the time away to help his body recover and get back to a place where he can compete again with the players at the top of the game.
Draper admitted coming into the tie that he’d been through some ‘dark times’ during his stretch away from the game, but feels that now he's on the right track to get his season up-and-running.
"It’s really good to play here in Oslo and have my first match in a long time," he said. "To get a point on the board for Great Britain. I haven’t played Davis Cup in a long time so it’s good to be out here and I’m proud of my performance today.
"Just a lot of hard work, a lot of perseverance. It’s been a really difficult time since I’ve been away from the sport but I knew I had to keep on practicing my hardest and learning about myself. That’s hard work that no one sees and then when I come back hopefully I’m able to play some top tennis again."
His return at the Davis Cup will inspire huge encouragement for himself and British fans, as the former world No.4 and Indian Wells champion dispatched his opponent in just 61 minutes.
Not only was it a comfortable win for the British star but the crowd were treated to glimpses of Draper’s strongest weapons.
The big serving lefty lost just three points behind his first serve (23/26) throughout the match, including eight aces, and the Brit dealt huge damage from his groundstrokes at the baseline. The Briton looked fit, sharp and moved impressively throughout.
Draper was clinical in the opening set, converting on both his break point opportunities, before then racing out to a 4-0 lead at the start of the second.
This was Draper’s first Davis Cup match since 2024, but there were little to no signs of pressure or nervousness from the Briton as he served out the victory to give his country the lead in this Qualifier tie.
Draper will return tomorrow to face former junior world No.1 Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, who is also set to play Cam Norrie in the second rubber of this tie.
Follow all the results and updates from Great Britain vs Norway
