Jack Draper's comeback at the Dubai Tennis Championships ended in the second round after the British number one lost to Arthur Rinderknech across three sets. 

Draper, who marked his first match in six months after injury with a win over Quentin Halys, was unable to repeat the trick as Rinderknech emerged a 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 victor. 

The first set saw both players trade blows as Rinderknech saved two break points in the 11th game, before the Frenchman broke Draper immediately after to take the lead. 

Draper was the first to come under pressure in the second set as he withstood three break points to restore parity at 3-3, but Rinderknech continued to pile on the pressure. 

And when faced with the possibility of trailing by a set and a break, Draper reset impressively, losing just one point in his three service breaks before winning the tie-break. 

That forced the encounter to go the distance, though it was Rinderknech who forced the breakthrough in the decider, sealing his progression when Draper sent a return long. 

Late night triumph

Rinderknech takes the last remaining quarter-final ticket in Dubai, outlasting Draper 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-4@DDFTennis | #DDFTennispic.twitter.com/Qtv3D06KT9

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 25, 2026

Rinderknech will face fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals, and he was joined in the last eight by Daniil Medvedev, who eased past Stan Wawrinka in straight sets. 

Medvedev came out on top in the battle of the grand slam champions, winning 6-2 6-3 to tee up a clash with American Jenson Brooksby, who beat Karen Khachanov. 

Data Debrief: Draper still rusty upon ATP return

After a solid return to the court against Halys, Draper struggled against Rinderknech, particularly on serve. His 11 aces were outdone by his opponents' 20, while the Briton also served up three double faults in the match. 

Medvedev, meanwhile, kept his hopes of winning a second Dubai title alive with a comfortable showing against Swiss veteran Wawrinka. 

Indeed, the third seed's triumph was the first time he had defeated a grand slam champion in 387 days, when he also beat Wawrinka in Rotterdam last year.