\n<\/p>\n
Draper’s injury troubles began at Wimbledon last year, when he was having the best run of his career after reaching the 2024 US Open semi-finals and rising to a career-high fourth in the world rankings.<\/p>\n
He added: “I’ve spent a lot of time off court with injury, I was on a great trajectory last year.<\/p>\n
“My body stopped me in my tracks. I wasn’t able to play and the last year has been really difficult.”<\/p>\n
But Draper continued his strong start under new coach Sir Andy Murray with another confident performance on the south coast on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The left-hander started brightly and broke serve early on, but he squandered a set point at 5-4 up and Pinnington Jones, 23, struck back thanks to a lucky net-cord winner.<\/p>\n
But Draper restored his lead immediately and his serve, which has looked impressive upon his return, saw him through the opener with back-to-back aces.<\/p>\n
The former British number one carried the momentum into the second set and, after breaking early again, he didn’t face a break point before wrapping up the success and sharing a warm embrace with Pinnington Jones at the net.<\/p>\n
“Jack’s a great friend, so it’s tough playing against a good friend. He’s still young, he recently came out of college and he’s been building his way up the rankings,” said Draper.<\/p>\n
“I believe he’s going to be a top, top player and I think he showed that today.”<\/p>\n
Draper was joined by fellow Britons Jan Choinski and Toby Samuel in the last eight.<\/p>\n
Choinski defeated compatriot Felix Gill 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 to reach his first ATP Tour quarter-final, while lucky loser Samuel claimed his first Tour-level win with a 6-1 7-6 (9-7) victory over Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante.<\/p>\n
Gill, also a lucky loser, had been a late replacement for defending men’s champion Taylor Fritz, who withdrew in order to give himself the “best chance of being 100%” for Wimbledon after injury issues.<\/p>\n
In the women’s draw, American second seed Madison Keys breezed past Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain 6-0 6-1, while Latvian third seed Jelena Ostapenko came from behind to beat Hungary’s Panna Udvardy 3-6 6-1 6-2.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n