Jack Draper fell at the first hurdle at the Cincinnati Open as he lost 6-3 7-5 to Martin Landaluce on Thursday.

Draper will be frustrated not to have taken the match to a decider, having squandered six set-point opportunities in the second. 

The former world number four – who returned from injury last week but succumbed to a first-round exit in Montreal – looked some way off his usual level as he was broken in the first and last games of the opening set.

He appeared to be in control of the second at 5-2 up on his own serve, but his first wasted set point gave Landaluce a new lease of life as he got a momentum-shifting break.

Draper then had two more set points against the Spaniard's serve in the next game, but Landaluce held, and nerves seemed to grip the Brit when he was again serving for the set at 5-4.

Three more set points came and went before Landaluce secured his second straight break, and he made it three in a row when Draper was back on serve to get over the line.

Signed, sealed, delivered 

Martin Landaluce notches a fine win against Draper 6-3, 7-5 and is through to the next round in Cincinnati. @CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/EvPaAraHW0

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 13, 2026

Draper unable to shake off rust

Draper had never previously lost in the opening round at back-to-back ATP Tour events, but he suffered that unwanted first on Thursday.

Having been in tears at a changeover in Canada last week, Draper did at least get through this match without any fitness setbacks, though his record for the year now stands at 8-7.

And he is running out of time to get into anything approaching peak condition for the final grand slam of the year, with the US Open beginning on August 30.