ATP Tour

Draper continues successful return, reaches Eastbourne QFs

Jack Draper continued his comeback at the Lexus Eastbourne Open on Wednesday, when he pushed past countryman Jack Pinnington Jones 7-5, 6-4.

The British lefty Draper, who is working with coach Andy Murray during the grass-court season, defeated Marcos Giron in his opening match to earn his first win since March and then backed it up against Pinnington Jones, once again moving freely throughout.

In the Eastbourne sun, Draper recovered from failing to serve out the first set at 5-4 by winning the following two games to clinch the opener. The 24-year-old then upped his tempo and aggression in the second set to advance after one hour and 31 minutes.

The 2025 Indian Wells champion Draper is making his return to Tour this week, having been sidelined since April with a knee injury. The Brit, who reached a career-high No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings last year, is into his fifth tour-level quarter-final on home soil and will next play Gabriel Diallo or Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Sixth seed Ugo Humbert recorded a 6-3, 6-2 win against Jenson Brooksby to reach the quarter-finals in Eastbourne for the second consecutive year. The French lefty, who advanced to the last four at the ATP 250 last year, has won five of his six matches on grass this year after enjoying a run to the semi-finals at The Queen’s Club, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

Humbert is chasing his eighth tour-level trophy this week and will next meet countryman Quentin Halys. The lucky loser downed British qualifier Giles Hussey 6-1, 7-5.

Eighth seed Juan Manuel Cerundolo advanced to his second tour-level quarter-final of the season with a 6-2, 7-6(2) win against British wild card Arthur Fery. Cerundolo captured the biggest victory of his career last month at Roland Garros, where he stunned the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings Jannik Sinner.

Zizou Bergs and Toby Samuel also advanced on Wednesday on the south coast. Bergs moved past German Daniel Altmaier, who retired when the Belgian led 6-3, 3-2. British lucky loser Samuel downed Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-1, 7-6(7) to reach his maiden tour-level quarter-final.