Rinderknech outlasts Draper in Dubai thriller
Arthur Rinderknech edged out Jack Draper 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4 on Wednesday evening and will play Russian Andrey Rublev, the No 5 seed, in the next round
Arthur Rinderknech, 2026 | © Imago / PsNewz
In a match defined by razor-thin margins and unusual occurrences, Arthur Rinderknech edged out fourth seed Jack Draper 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Despite the defeat, Draper ends the week having secured his second tour-level win of a season that is only just beginning to take shape.
This was Draper’s third official match since returning from a grueling seven-month injury layoff, bringing his 2026 record to 2-1 (including a straight-sets victory over Viktor Durasovic in the Davis Cup). The Briton displayed flashes of the vintage power that propelled him to world No. 4 last season, most notably uncorking a staggering 161 km/h forehand that left the Dubai crowd breathless.
Now Indian Wells for Draper
However, the afternoon was not without its quirks. In a moment of rare distraction, Draper realized late in the first set that he had been playing with his shirt on back to front. He finally corrected the wardrobe malfunction, much to the amusement of the spectators, though he lost the subsequent game to drop the opening set.
The statistical story of the match serves as a testament to its intensity. Draper actually won one more point than his opponent –104 to 103 –yet found himself on the losing side of the scoreboard. The contest was a pure serve-dominated battle; remarkably, there was only two breaks of serve for the French, both decisive, at 6-5 Draper in the first set, another at 1-1 in the final set. Rinderknech capitalized on that lone opening to steer the match toward a 2-hour and 41-minute victory.
For Draper, the focus now shifts immediately to the United States. Currently ranked world No. 14, the stakes could not be higher as he heads to the California desert. He must defend a colossal 1,000 of his 2,510 ATP points at Indian Wells next week. A deep run is essential to prevent a significant slide in the rankings, but his physical resilience in Dubai suggests he is ready for the challenge.
Rinderknech will now play against Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals.
Dubai round of 16
F. Auger-Aliassime (1) – G. Mpetshi Perricard (Q): 6-4, 6-4
J. Lehecka (8) – P. Carreno Busta (Q): 7-6[6], 6-4
D. Medvedev (3) – S. Wawrinka (WC): 6-2, 6-3
J. Brooksby – K. Khachanov (7): 7-6[6], 6-4
A. Rublev (5) – U. Humbert: 6-4, 6-7[5], 6-3
A. Rinderknech – J. Draper (4): 7-5, 6-7[4], 6-4
J. Mensik (6) – A. Popyrin: 6-3, 6-2
T. Griekspoor – A. Bublik (2): 6-3, 7-6[4]
QUARTER FINALS
F. Auger-Aliassime (1) – J. Lehecka (8): Thursday (to be played)
D. Medvedev (3) – J. Brooksby: Thursday (to be played)
A. Rublev (5) – A. Rinderknech: Thursday (to be played)
J. Mensik (6) – T. Griekspoor: Thursday (to be played)
