Opelka Serving Masterclass Ends Draper Miami Open Run

Reilly Opelka delivered a serving clinic that left Jack Draper helpless in the opening round of the Miami Open, firing 25 thunderous aces en route to a commanding 7-6(3), 7-6(0) victory over the British 25th seed.

The towering American, standing at 6 feet 11 inches, demonstrated why he proudly embraces the servebot label that others might consider derogatory. His destructive serving performance completely neutralized Draper return game, with the Briton unable to create a single break point opportunity throughout the match.

For Draper, this early exit represents a significant setback in what has already been a challenging comeback journey. The 25-year-old has been steadily working his way back to full fitness following a devastating bone bruise injury that sidelined him for seven grueling months. Miami marks just the third ATP tournament since his return to competitive tennis.

Despite the disappointment, Draper maintained perspective about his situation. I did not have many chances, especially on his serve, the British player reflected after the match. I did not get broken, so that was kind of my job, right? I guess I am still at the very early stages of coming back from what was a very difficult injury to deal with.

The former world number 15 acknowledged that patience remains crucial in his rehabilitation process. If someone said that I am going to be playing Dubai, Indian Wells, here, and go home feeling good, then I would have taken that, because it is a long season to go, he added, showing the mental resilience that has characterized his comeback.

Opelka dominance on serve was absolute, winning both sets in tiebreaks despite Draper holding his own service games throughout. The American ability to consistently find the corners with pace and precision left even an accomplished returner like Draper with few answers.

While Draper Miami campaign ended prematurely, there was positive news elsewhere for British tennis. Katie Boulter continued her impressive resurgence by advancing to the third round after 17th seed Clara Tauson was forced to retire due to injury. Boulter, who had led 6-7(4), 6-4, 1-0 when play stopped, has been in excellent form since winning her first WTA title in Ostrava last month.

The victory has propelled Boulter back into the world top 65, a remarkable turnaround after falling outside the top 100 following a difficult 2025 season. During December and January we worked so, so hard but you never really expect it to kind of just click straight away, Boulter explained. I told myself I needed to be patient and be ready for a battle for multiple months to then get my best self back.

Boulter now faces a stern test against 13th seed Karolina Muchova in the next round, as she continues her upward trajectory in the rankings. Her rapid improvement serves as inspiration for Draper, who will hope to build similar momentum as he continues his own journey back to the top of the game.