Jack Draper laments a tough defeat after an incredible match against Opelka.

Jack Draper, one of the promising young talents in British tennis, was forced to withdraw from the Miami Open in painful fashion after a defeat at the hands of the powerful Reilly Opelka, who excelled in the match with his overwhelming serve. The final score was 7-6(3), 7-6(0), in a contest where Draper could not find an answer to the strength of his opponent’s serve.

After a positive campaign at Indian Wells, where he reached the quarter-finals and defeated the legendary Novak Djokovic, Draper had high hopes for the Miami Open. However, his dream of advancing past the second round, something he has never achieved in previous editions of the tournament, was quickly dashed. “It’s definitely disappointing, I never like to lose, but the guy played an incredible match,” Draper confessed to Sky Sports, reflecting on his performance against Opelka.

The young 23-year-old tennis player, who is trying to recover from a long absence due to injury, acknowledged that he is still in the process of finding his best form. “It’s difficult. Obviously, I haven’t played much tennis, it’s still very early in my return after the injury, so it’s going to take time,” he stated. With only three ATP tournaments since his return, Draper is cautious and avoids putting excessive pressure on himself. “I just have to keep working with my team, trying to do the right things and train well,” he added.

During the match, Opelka, a giant at 2.11 meters tall, showed why he is considered one of the most feared servers on the circuit. The American fired an impressive 25 aces, while Draper managed only 7, winning 87% of his first serve points. This effectiveness led to two tiebreaks, where Draper felt he didn’t have many opportunities to break Opelka’s serve. “I didn’t have many chances, especially on his serve. I wasn’t broken in the match, so that was my job, right?” Draper said, highlighting the frustration of battling against such a strong opponent.

With the conclusion of the Sunshine Swing, Draper now turns his focus to the upcoming challenges in the clay season. He is aware that a drop in the rankings may be imminent, as points from last year’s tournaments in Madrid and Rome are at stake. Draper’s determination to regain his form and achieve new successes on the circuit is undeniable, and fans eagerly await his return to victory.