Overview

• Returning from hematomas/bone bruising in his left arm, Draper defeated Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (7), 6-2 on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
• He played his first match since Wimbledon and said he was unsure he would even make New York, crediting his team and tempering expectations for this fortnight.
• Match sharpness lagged as his first‑serve speed dipped from last year and he logged multiple double faults, yet he steadied to close out the fourth set.
• He appeared to vomit late in the third set on a hot afternoon but regrouped, finishing the contest in just over three hours.
• Draper next faces Zizou Bergs in round two as he begins defending the ranking points from last year’s semi‑final run.