New York, Aug. 26 -- British number one Jack Draper said he was "almost a bit happy" to dropa set as he was put through a severe examination of his fitness on his US Open return.
Draper needed to dig deep to beat Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez 6-4 7-5 6-7 (7-9) 6-2 in the first round.
The fifth seed, who reached the New York semi-finals last year, was playing his first singles match since Wimbledon in early July after suffering an arm injury.
"I needed tennis in my legs. I needed to play a three-hour match," Draper said. "I was almost a bit happy when I lost the third because my level wasn't amazing. "Then I felt like towards the end of the fourth I started to get better and better."Draper, 23, is seen as one of the contender...