Overview

• Draper beat qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (7-9), 6-2 in just over three hours at Flushing Meadows.
• The match was his first outing since a surprise Wimbledon defeat to Marin Cilic and a subsequent layoff for a left‑arm bone bruise.
• His serve lagged his usual level with five double faults and an average first‑serve speed near 109 mph, down from last year.
• He coped with the New York heat using ice packs and later suggested anti‑inflammatories contributed to mid‑match discomfort.
• Next up is Belgium’s Zizou Bergs after Gomez, ranked No. 203, tested him with power including a 142 mph serve.