Jack Draper experienced another frustrating setback in his return to top-level tennis as he collapsed in the opening round of the Cincinnati Open. The 24-year-old Briton appeared to have turned the match in his favour after establishing a commanding 5-2 advantage in the second set. However, 20-year-old opponent Landaluce mounted a remarkable comeback, winning five consecutive games to seal a straight-sets victory and knock the former top-five player out of the tournament.
Second Set Collapse and High Unforced Error Count
Landaluce, currently ranked 64th in the world, showed composure to close out the match 6-3, 7-5. Draper spurned six separate set points during the second set that would have forced a decider. The match statistics highlighted Draper's ongoing rhythm issues, as he accumulated 47 unforced errors and served 12 double faults throughout the contest. Although the Briton did not display obvious signs of physical distress during the match, his competitive confidence clearly wavered once the young Spaniard leveled the second set at 5-5.
Ranking Plummet and Injury Background
The Cincinnati encounter marked only Draper's second competitive match since June, coming shortly after a loss to Terence Atmane at the Canadian Open. A persistent arm injury has disrupted his momentum over the past year, causing his world ranking to drop drastically. After reaching a career-high of world number four last summer, Draper fell as low as 160th within a 12-month span and currently sits at 143rd in the global standings. The lack of match sharpness has made his rebuilding phase particularly difficult.
Seeking Help from Biomechanics Specialist
To overcome his recurring injury problems and refine his movement, Draper recently began consulting 61-year-old Mexican biomechanics expert Carlos Cano. Cano is well-regarded in tennis development circles, having previously worked with Arthur Fery during his rise to become the British number one player. Draper hopes that working on his physical mechanics will allow him to recover his peak form and climb back up the ATP rankings.
