Draper downs Halys on return to ATP Tour in Dubai, Auger-Aliassime also wins

[p]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 2nd.[/p][p][b]"It feels so good to be out here competing in front of people,"[/b] said [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/draper-jack/SWxNhpmK/"]Draper[/a] after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/draper-j-SWxNhpmK/halys-q-EDve8Ljh/?mid=URLQdYS7"]the win[/a], who had climbed to No. 4 in the world rankings last June and is now at No. 12.[/p][p][b]"It could have been a little cleaner from my side, but I hadn't played on the Tour for a long time," [/b]he said.[/p][p][b]"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."[/b][/p][embed guid="5f1bb392-5b32-4a0a-a497-843543e4d6bb" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2026016594959249444" social-type="twitter" /][p]Earlier, top seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/auger-aliassime-felix/CzXh4LAb/"]Felix Auger-Aliassime[/a] needed six match points before dispatching [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zhang-zhizhen/IFKEHRGG/"]Zhang Zhizhen[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/auger-aliassime-f-CzXh4LAb/zhang-z-IFKEHRGG/?mid=pt7ugVLt"]6-3, 7-6(4)[/a].[/p][p][b]"I stopped counting at some point; it was getting too frustrating,"[/b] said the Canadian.[/p][p][b]"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. [/b][/p][p]"How much further I am from losing than he is, he should be the one that's tight."[/p][embed guid="70037cf8-dc1a-4210-909b-88adc7ea1944" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2025982386442240050" social-type="twitter" /][p]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.[/p][p]He will next face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mpetshi-perricard-giovanni/ITe9m2F8/"]Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard[/a], whose big serve saved him in two tie-breaks as he beat Tunisian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/echargui-moez/65tqemRH/"]Moez Echargui[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/echargui-m-65tqemRH/mpetshi-perricard-g-ITe9m2F8/?mid=dENIbfbe"]7-6(3), 6-7(3), 7-6(4)[/a] for a first tour win since reaching the quarter-finals in Auckland in January.[/p][p]The Frenchman hit 29 aces, including one on match point.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wawrinka-stan/Uo9lu6le/"]Stan Wawrinka[/a] continued his farewell tour by beating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hassan-benjamin/W66euka4/"]Benjamin Hassan[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/hassan-b-W66euka4/wawrinka-s-Uo9lu6le/?mid=G66YxJVr"]7-5, 6-3[/a], with Swiss Davis Cup and Olympic teammate Roger Federer, who won the Dubai event eight times, in the stands.[/p][p]It was Wawrinka's 10th tour-level win since turning 40, a record in the Open Era.[/p][embed guid="03239b12-400c-4a6b-b72b-5cebc6ec6a87" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2025950452001419719" social-type="twitter" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/tennis/atp-singles/dubai/"]Follow the Dubai Tennis Championships here.[/a][/b][/p]