Jack Draper triumphs on comeback at Eastbourne in front of new coach Andy Murray

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/murray-andy/tYvP6939/"]Murray[/a] watched from a courtside box as former world number four [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/draper-jack/SWxNhpmK/"]Draper[/a] beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/giron-marcos/OWOgryOk/"]Marcos Giron[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/draper-j-SWxNhpmK/giron-m-OWOgryOk/?mid=dOSlikno"]6-4, 7-6(5)[/a] in the first round on the sun-baked English south coast.[/p][p]He showed no obvious fitness concerns during a solid display to set up an all-British encounter with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pinnington-jones-jack/jRDvhb4q/"]Jack Pinnington Jones[/a] in the last 16 of the Wimbledon warm-up event.[/p][embed guid="a1bedaf4-a2ea-4b1d-80c0-76d5d0c85136" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2069071209728270719" social-type="twitter" /][p]"[b]It's been an incredibly difficult year for me with certain physical bits but to be here is really special[/b]," Draper said.[/p][p]"[b]If you haven't competed in a while you never know what to expect. But I'm really happy with the way I came through in the end[/b].[/p][p]"[b]I've given myself another opportunity in the second round to play better and keep on hopefully building momentum in my tennis and in my body[/b]."[/p][p]Draper has enlisted the support of former Wimbledon champion Murray for the grass-court campaign after being plagued by chronic arm and knee injuries over the past year, in addition to a recent shoulder problem.[/p][embed guid="bf5c8ead-9016-4c90-98be-33e7bcce01ca" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2069076209800011790" social-type="twitter" /][p]The 24-year-old, who has plummeted to 160 in the rankings, declared himself in a "very good place" ahead of his first competitive outing since retiring injured in the last 32 of the Barcelona Open on April 13th.[/p][p]Former US Open semi-finalist Draper praised Murray's influence, saying: "[b]I haven't called him 'Sir' yet - that's not going to happen![/b][/p][p]"[b]Andy, truthfully, is one of my biggest inspirations[/b].[/p][p]"[b]As I came on to the tour, we spent some time together and I think we have a great relationship off the court but also what he brings to me in terms of the tennis as well[/b]."[/p]