Draper Continues Return In Lyon

Jack Draper continued his winning return on the ATP Tour Tuesday when he moved past fifth seed Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals at the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon.

The 21-year-old competed in Monte-Carlo in April but missed ATP Masters 1000 events in Madrid and Rome due to an abdominal injury. He has come out firing on his return in Lyon, though. The British lefty defeated Alexandre Muller in the first round and backed that up with a hard-fought display against Kecmanovic.

Draper rallied from a break down in the first set and won 82 per cent (27/33) of his first-serve points in the match to earn his 10th win of the season after one hour and 33 minutes.

“I am really happy. I have played two really high-level players and I feel that my game is in a good place, especially after having a few weeks off with injury,” Draper said. “Hopefully I can continue.”

Watch Tuesday Lyon Highlights:

Draper, currently No. 53 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, will face Francisco Cerundolo in his second quarter-final of the season after the fourth-seeded Argentine advanced past Juan Pablo Varillas, who was forced to retire after losing the first set 2-6.

Brandon Nakashima moved past Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 7-6(6), 1-6, 7-5 to reach his first quarter-final of the season. The 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals champion will next play third seed Tommy Paul or Gregoire Barrere. The American and Frenchman’s match was suspended at 7-6(6), 4-6, 2-2 due to bad light.

Paul is aiming to win his first title of the season this week in Geneva. Earlier this year he reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open and the championship match in Acapulco.

In other action, Argentine Pedro Cachin earned a comeback win against Frenchman Gael Monfils, advancing 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. It is the first time Cachin has won a match this season after losing the first set on Tour. The 28-year-old will meet countryman Sebastian Baez in the second round after the 22-year-old defeated Marton Fucsovics 6-4, 7-6(5).

Spanish qualifier Pablo Llamas Ruiz also advanced on his tour-level debut, defeating Australian Max Purcell 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-1. Llamas Ruiz will play top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round.