Jack Draper enjoyed a winning return to ATP Tour action as he beat Quentin Halys in straight sets at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Monday.
Draper came through 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 against his French opponent when making his first appearance on tour since last summer's US Open, having been nursing a "bone bruising" injury in his left arm ever since a second-round defeat to Marin Cilic at Wimbledon.
The Brit, sporting a new shaved head look, had returned to the court earlier this month when he beat Viktor Durasovic 6-2 6-2 in a Davis Cup tie against Norway.
"It feels so good, honestly to be out here, competing in front of people," Draper said after beating Halys.
"I had a tough opponent here today, he was tricky, he served great and it could have been a bit cleaner from my side, but I haven't played in a long time on the tour so I'm really proud of the way I came out today - hopefully I can keep going strength to strength.
"I suppose I've been craving the feeling of competing for a very long time. It felt normal, it felt like I was coming back to doing what I love, which is competing, having the adrenaline of winning and losing points.
"A lot of people have helped me get back to this position after a lot of down moments in the last eight months, it hasn't been easy to get back here, it's something I can be really proud of and long may it continue."
Draper posted a first serve win percentage of 86 per cent, with 13 aces, but converted just one of five break point opportunities.
He will now face the winner of Fabian Marozsan and Arthur Rinderknech's match in the next round.
A tightly-fought opening set saw Draper hit nine aces on his way to a tiebreak, where he saved three set points before clinching it in one hour and six minutes.
Halys stayed with him early in the second set too, before Draper converted a pivotal break point in the fourth game to take control of the match.
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