Jack Draper clinches flawless Davis Cup victory in long-awaited return
Jack Draper needed only 60 minutes to dismantle Norway’s Viktor Durasovic 6-2, 6-2. He had not played since the US Open.
Jack Draper, 2025 | © Ella Ling/Shutterstock/SIPA
British number one Jack Draper made an emphatic return to professional tennis on Thursday, February 5, 2026, ending a five-month injury layoff with a clinical victory in Oslo. The 24-year-old Londoner, currently ranked No 13 in the world, needed only 60 minutes to dismantle Norway’s Viktor Durasovic 6-2, 6-2.
Representing Great Britain in the Davis Cup Qualifiers, Draper showed no signs of rust despite not playing a competitive match since August 2024 due to a complex bone stress injury in his left service arm.
The road back to the court was marked by caution and several delays. Draper originally planned to return in December 2025 at the UTS Grand Final in London but was forced to withdraw as he was “not quite ready” to compete. He further delayed his comeback by skipping the 2026 Australian Open, citing the physical toll of best-of-five-set tennis so soon in his recovery process.
Draper’s performance in Oslo was defined by a dominant serve, as he struck eight aces and won 88% of his first-serve points without facing a single break point. This victory gave Great Britain a 1-0 lead in their tie against Norway, then extended to 2-0 by Cameron Norrie.
“It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been able to compete on the match court and today was a great opportunity to do that,” Draper said. Reflecting on the setbacks, he added: “I’ve obviously been through a fair amount of setbacks so far, but by far and away this one has been the most difficult, the most challenging, the most complex one that I’ve had”.
Draper is scheduled to resume his ATP Tour season next week in Rotterdam.
