Jack Draper’s return to the ATP Tour was a successful one, as he defeated Quentin Halys in straight sets to advance in Dubai.
Draper returned to competitive play earlier this month after a five-month injury absence, helping Great Britain secure victory against Norway in the Davis Cup.
He then withdrew from the Rotterdam Open, leading Steve Johnson to worry about the status of his left arm.
On Monday, Draper quelled any concerns by recording his second consecutive competitive victory, saving two set points before beating Halys 7-6, 6-4.
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However, for all of the positive signs Draper presented on Monday, his greatest test has yet to arrive.
Jack Draper’s biggest test will be the clay-court season
The clay-court period of the tennis calendar is widely regarded as the most physically demanding portion of the season.
And with Draper having only recently returned from a long period on the sidelines, it will be interesting to see how the British star fares on the dirt when the calendar moves back to Europe in April.
Draper has two points to prove on the clay: whether his general fitness levels are at the level to compete on the surface, and whether his left arm can handle the strain of playing long rallies and extended matches.
Clay is a fearsome beast: the ball kicks up more, the surface is slow and difficult to navigate, the rallies are longer, and matches are often extended.
While Draper is not competing in a clay-court event before the clay swing, he does have an opportunity to prepare for slower conditions.
Next week, Draper will compete at the Indian Wells Masters: a tournament he won in 2025.
Indian Wells, a Masters 1000 event, is well-known for having one of the slowest hard courts on Tour: a surface that is gritty and slow-bouncing.
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If Draper can again advance far in Indian Wells, this would give him the opportunity to prepare for some of the slower matches he will experience during the clay-court swing.
Jack Draper’s improved play on clay
One thing going in Draper’s favour is his excellent clay-court game, which came to the fore during last year’s clay-court swing.
Draper has previously struggled on the surface, but that notion changed quickly when he reached the Madrid Masters final and Italian Open quarter-finals.
In April last year, Draper credited a ‘mindset change’ for his refined clay-court game
“At this level, it’s all about momentum and confidence,” he told Sky Sports [as per TNT Sports] after reaching the 2025 Madrid Masters quarter-finals. “Especially on this surface, I feel like it’s just more matches and more time competing against the best players in the world.
“I guess, by winning a few more tournaments and by putting myself nearer the top of the game, I feel like I belong. I’m confident. I think that helps more.
“It’s getting stronger in the gym, hard work on the court and a mindset change.
Jack Draper’s record at 2025 clay-court events
| Tournament | Round Reached | Opponent he lost to |
| Monte-Carlo Masters | Round of 16 | Alejandro Davidovich Fokina |
| Madrid Masters | Final | Casper Ruud |
| Italian Open | Quarter-finals | Carlos Alcaraz |
| French Open | Fourth Round | Alexander Bublik |
“I think, probably for the players who are from the UK or who don’t play on this surface often, they go into the mindset that they’re not going to be that great on it. That can prevent them from going further.
“Last year, I took a few early losses in the rounds and I was really bummed with it. I know I can play well on this surface.
“This year, it’s been a big goal of mine to prove that I can play really well. I know that if I want to be a top player, I have to.”
