Jack Draper began his Eastbourne International campaign with a straight-sets victory under the guidance of new coach Andy Murray, winning 6-3, 6-4 against a qualifier on Tuesday.
Draper's dominant start
The British No. 1, who recently parted ways with former coach Wayne Ferreira, showed little sign of disruption as he broke serve twice in the first set and once in the second. Draper fired seven aces and saved the only break point he faced, wrapping up the match in 72 minutes.
According to tournament officials, Draper's performance was a promising start to his grass-court season ahead of Wimbledon. The 22-year-old has been working with Murray since last week, with the three-time Grand Slam champion offering advice on court positioning and shot selection.
Murray's coaching debut
This marks Murray's first public appearance as a coach since announcing his retirement from professional tennis earlier this year. Murray, a former world No. 1, has been mentoring Draper in a part-time capacity, focusing on tactical aspects of the game.
“It's great to have Andy in my corner,” Draper said after the match. “He brings a wealth of experience, especially on grass. We've been working on a few things, and it felt good out there today.”
Impact on grass-court season
Draper, who reached the fourth round of Wimbledon last year, is seeking to build momentum ahead of the Championships. The Eastbourne tournament serves as a key warm-up event, with several top players competing.
The victory improves Draper's record on grass this season to 3-1, following a semi-final appearance at the Queen's Club Championships. He will face a seeded opponent in the second round, scheduled for Thursday.
