Jack Draper returned to ATP Tour after almost six months away with a 7-6 (10-8), 6-3 win over Quentin Halys in the first round of the 500 event in Dubai on Monday.
Last August, the Briton withdrew ahead of the second round of the US Open. His only match since then was a straight-sets victory over Norwegian Viktor Durasovic in the Davis Cup on February 2.
"It feels so good to be out here competing in front of people," said Draper, who had climbed to No 4 in the world rankings last June and is now at No 12.
"It could have been a little cleaner from my side, but I hadn't played on the Tour for a long time," he said.
"I've been craving the feeling of competing for a very long time. It just felt normal. It felt like I was coming back to doing what I love."
Welcome back, Jack ☺️
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 23, 2026
Draper takes down last year’s semifinalist Halys 7-6(8), 6-3 in only his second match since the US Open 💪@DDFTennis | #DDFTennispic.twitter.com/15uLSKZDh9
Earlier, top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime needed six match points before despatching Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).
"I stopped counting at some point, it was getting too frustrating," said the Canadian.
"Having match points is the position you want to be in as a player, but it's weird how the mind plays a trick on you. How much further I am from losing than he is, he should be the one that's tight."
Top seed rolls 🔛@felixtennis with a straight sets victory to get things going in Dubai@DDFTennis | #DDFTennispic.twitter.com/DeDnM169yw
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 23, 2026
Auger-Aliassime, the losing finalist in Dubai last season, has reached the final of his last two tournaments this season – winning in Montpellier before losing in Rotterdam.
He will next face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard whose big serve saved him in two tie-breaks as he beat Tunisian Moez Echargui 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4) for a first tour win since reaching the quarterfinals in Auckland in January.
The Frenchman hit 29 aces, including one on match point.
Stan Wawrinka continued his farewell tour by beating Benjamin Hassan 7-5, 6-3 with Swiss Davis Cup and Olympic teammate Roger Federer, who won the Dubai event eight times, in the stands.
Stan Win-Wrinka 👏@stanwawrinka gets the win over Hassan to move into Round 2 in Dubai
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 23, 2026
pic.twitter.com/p8kOc5mEOH
It was Wawrinka's 10th tour-level win since turning 40, a record in the Open Era.