Jack Draper made a winning return to the ATP Tour following a six-month injury layoff as he defeated Quentin Halys in straight sets at the Dubai Tennis Championships. 

Draper was making his first Tour-level appearance since the US Open last August, when an arm injury forced him to withdraw ahead of a second-round matchup with Zizou Bergs.

The 24-year-old – who has fallen to 15th in the world rankings – triumphed 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 in one hour and 39 minutes.

He had to save a couple of set points after the opener went to a tie-break, before taking the fourth such opportunity he created.

Draper then broke four games into the second set and ultimately held to love to get over the line. He will face either Arthur Rinderknech or Fabian Marozsan in the last 16.

"I've been craving the feeling of competing for a very long time," Draper said afterwards. "It just felt normal. 

"It felt like I was coming back to doing what I love, which is, which is being out here competing and having that adrenaline, winning and losing points."

Draper will be joined in the round of 16 by Stan Wawrinka, who could face Daniil Medvedev next after overcoming fellow wildcard Benjamin Hassan 7-5 6-3.

Welcome back, Jack 

Draper takes down last year’s semifinalist Halys 7-6(8), 6-3 in only his second match since the US Open @DDFTennis | #DDFTennispic.twitter.com/15uLSKZDh9

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 23, 2026

Data Debrief: No signs of rust for Draper

This was just the third match Draper has played since Wimbledon last year, having beaten Federico Gomez at Flushing Meadows and Viktor Durasovic in the Davis Cup earlier this month.

Draper – who is seeded fourth on his Dubai debut – won 86% of his first-serve points (43/50) and saved all three break points he faced, while winning one of the first he generated.