"Andy’s a legend so everyone loves seeing him" - Draper-Murray partnership flourishing as sickness bug and heat overcome at Eastbourne Open

Jack Draper is continuing his return to tennis following arm and knee problems at the Eastbourne Open. A sickness bug and extortionate heats would not get in the way of the determined Brit as he fired past Jack Pinnington Jones 7-5, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals.

It is his second victory since returning to the court following an abrupt end to his clay swing in Barcelona following a knee problem. Back on grass, Draper is still yet to get to his absolute best, but he is winning and getting more matches under his belt which is crucial heading into Wimbledon and the rest of the year.

Now under the guidance of three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray, he is looking to reach the heights he once did, this time last year climbing to world number four after a brilliant spell on court which saw him lift the Indian Wells title and reach the final of the Madrid Open. Injury has scuppered all that progress, leaving him outside the world top 100 and at square one. Now, he senses an opportunity to get back to competing with the best in Eastbourne.

Draper was in control of the first set following an early break of serve. That statement of intent and control was relinquished by his good friend as Pinnington Jones saving a set point enroute to levelling at 5-5. The former US Open semi-finalist was having none of it, breaking instantly back before this time serving it out.

He made it four games in a row to sail into a commanding set and break advantage and could have made it a double break with one chance coming and going. It was relatively routine from there as he took his third match point and sets up a tie with Gabriel Diallo in a very open draw on the Sussex coast.

Draper had previously suffered with a long term left arm injury caused by a bruised humerus. He boasted a sleeve on that particular arm, but stressed it was not fitness related after the win. “I’ve always worn a sleeve for sweat because otherwise I sweat very heavily and the grip gets destroyed very quickly. It wasn’t to do with my arm injury,” he stated, unveiling a different problem he was dealing with.

“I had a bit of a stomach ache, stomach bug today, so I was struggling a little bit with that. But, apart from that, playing these matches again, when you test yourself, when you come through tough sets in tough conditions it gets easier as it goes along. You get more and more conditioned to competing. It’s obviously very different to the practice court so I think every match I’ll keep get better and better on that front.”

With Murray by his side, Draper has got a tennis icon as a mentor who has also been lauding him heavily ahead of his return to action. A buzz swept around Centre Court as Murray was spotted watching Draper on.

“When he walked on court, people obviously noticed and a bit of noise for him – I’m not sure if he likes that too much,” Draper commented. “But that’s what comes with it. Andy’s a legend so everyone loves seeing him.”

He continued his praise of the Scot. “It’s really good to have that support from Andy. He absolutely loves being back in tennis again. It’s his passion, competing and that overall buzz of a tennis environment. I think Andy’s the ultimate competitor in that way and the more I’m around him, the more I see he’s really enjoying being back around tennis, which is really nice for me and also him. It’s very nice to have him calling me on.”

There is a sense that the title is there for the taking. Following the late withdrawal of Taylor Fritz, it is anyone's tournament to win. Ugo Humbert and Juan Manuel Cerundolo are the only two seeds left in the tournament. Draper does not have to worry about that until possibly the semi-finals with either Humbert or fellow Frenchman Quentin Halys waiting.

It is the perfect preparation heading into Wimbledon, in which Draper will want to take advantage of. That is where his arm injury stemmed from last year with a second round defeat to Marin Cilic a huge surprise. In fact, Draper has never made it past the second round at SW19. He will be hoping that changes this time around with the tournament starting from June 29, a couple of days following the culmination of the Eastbourne Open.