Jack Draper is ready to return to aggressive play at the Barcelona Open.
Draper, the British quantity two, final competed at the Miami Open, the place he misplaced 6-7, 6-7 to Reilly Opelka in his opening match.
The British star then selected to forego the Monte Carlo Masters and as an alternative return to motion in Spain.
Who will win the Barcelona Open?
Draper, who will be competing in his first clay-court occasion of the yr, will face Tomas Martin Etcheverry in his first-round match.
Tennis fans will learn whether or not Jack Draper is able to compete with the finest on clay
Jack Draper has been given the good first take a look at of his clay-court marketing campaign.
The British star faces Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who has excelled on clay-court surfaces this season.
The Argentine has emerged as considered one of the finest clay-court gamers on the Tour after successful the Rio Open and difficult Carlos Alcaraz at the Monte Carlo Masters.
Etcheverry represents a litmus take a look at for Draper: a competitor who will problem the British star to his limits on the floor.
If Draper had been to defeat Etcheverry and go on to achieve the quarter-finals, he would seemingly play Alex de Minaur.
Jack Draper’s projected Barcelona Open path
- Tomas Etcheverry
- Adrian Mannarino / Nuno Borges
- Alex de Minaur
- Carlos Alcaraz
- Lorenzo Musetti
De Minaur, the third seed in Barcelona, can be a wonderful clay-court participant, as demonstrated by him reaching the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals.
One hopes that Draper advances to the semi-finals, the place he would seemingly play Carlos Alcaraz.
Alcaraz, maybe the finest clay-court participant on the ATP Tour, would symbolize the final take a look at of Jack Draper’s clay-court capabilities.
Jack Draper plans to play a full clay-court schedule
Ahead of the Barcelona Open, Draper mentioned his resolution to withdraw from Monte Carlo, whereas revealing his plan for the the rest of the clay-court swing.
Draper, who described the resolution to withdraw from Monte Carlo as ‘hard,’ advised ATP Media: “That’s very much the plan. The plan is to play Madrid, Rome, French, and go full schedule as much as I can.
“I think I’ve got enough training, enough miles in the tank to do that now.
Where will Jack Draper be ranked by the end of 2026?
“I don’t know how my results are going to be, but I’m enjoying being back out on the tour, and I’m looking forward to getting my momentum back.”
Draper has the alternative to considerably improve his rating at the 2026 Barcelona Open. After all, he has no rating factors to defend in Barcelona as he didn’t compete in the 2025 occasion.
Should Draper report a robust run in Barcelona, he may reclaim the British primary spot from Cameron Norrie.
