Reilly Opelka eliminates Jack Draper from Miami Open second round
American Reilly Opelka hit 25 aces to eliminate Britain’s Jack Draper from the second round of the Miami Open following two tight tie-breaks on Friday.
The 6ft 11in giant showcased a formidable serving display, producing 47 winners to seal a 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-0) victory.
He established his dominance immediately by firing four consecutive aces in the opening game of the match.
Despite committing just six unforced errors throughout the contest, the British challenger struggled to break down his opponent’s towering serve.
Draper faces rankings slide
The defeat prematurely ends a promising American hard-court swing for the British talent, who recently reached the quarter-finals at Indian Wells.
He had arrived in Florida searching for further momentum after spending almost eight months sidelined with a severe arm injury.
This early exit leaves the left-hander vulnerable to a drop in the world rankings heading into the upcoming clay-court season.
It also compounds a difficult week after he was recently overtaken by compatriot Cameron Norrie in the national standings.
Boulter advances after Tauson injury
In the women’s draw, Katie Boulter successfully navigated a rain-disrupted encounter to secure her place in the third round.
The British number three progressed when 17th seed Clara Tauson retired early in the deciding set with an unspecified injury.
The Danish competitor was forced to abandon the match while trailing 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 1-0.
This hard-fought contest was heavily impacted by showers, which contributed to a stuttering start for both athletes.
The resilient Briton initially squandered a 5-3 lead in the opening set before mounting a spirited comeback to level the match and ultimately force the retirement.
