During his initial game, Draper showcased sufficient skill to overcome Halys. However, he lacked the necessary keenness when facing Rinderknech.
Draper appeared once more with a compression sleeve on his injured left arm; nevertheless, a series of winning shots from his stronger side – featuring a remarkable 100mph forehand that shot past Rinderknech – indicated his willingness to play aggressively.
The British player has also adopted a platform serving technique, positioning his feet a bit wider to facilitate a more fluid weight transfer, aiming to ease the strain on his troublesome bruised upper arm bone.
This demonstrates Draper’s understanding of the ongoing need to manage his physical condition.
Draper will likely be content with how he challenged a well-prepared Rinderknech right up to the finish, despite not being able to generate break points against his adversary’s incredibly consistent serves.
Rinderknech’s diverse shot-making and accuracy on the swift court proved challenging to contend with. Furthermore, Draper’s limited recent play manifested in some unpolished returns as the game entered its crucial phase.
After the unavoidable sense of disappointment that accompanies any loss diminishes, Draper will likely consider the progress he achieved in Dubai favorably – provided his recovery proceeds smoothly.
Subsequently, he will travel to Indian Wells – aiming to retain the most significant championship of his career – having accumulated important match experience and successfully finished the initial phase of what will probably be a patient recovery journey.
