Service Masterclass from Reilly Opelka Halts Jack Draper’s Miami Open Ambitions in Opening Round

Jack Draper suffers a straight-sets loss to Reilly Opelka at the 2026 Miami Open. Read about his injury recovery and the new service motion drawing expert criticism.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 23, 2026, 6:07 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tennis365

The Power of the Opelka Serve

The second-round clash at the Hard Rock Stadium became a battle of service holds, but the 6’11” Reilly Opelka proved to be the more clinical of the two. Opelka’s performance was statistically dominant; he fired 25 aces and won both tie-breaks without facing a single break point against his own serve. For Jack Draper, the match was a constant defensive struggle. While the Brit managed to hold his own serve throughout regulation play, the tie-breaks saw Opelka take aggressive swings in rallies, finishing the match with a staggering 47 winners and effectively taking the outcome out of Draper’s hands.

A New Technique Under Scrutiny

Draper’s return to the ATP Tour following a significant arm injury has been marked by a notable change in his service mechanics. The 2025 Indian Wells champion has adopted a new stance and motion, a move that has drawn mixed reviews from experts. Former doubles world number one Jamie Murray admitted to being confused by the drastic change, questioning why such a fundamental shift was made while Draper is still regaining match fitness. Despite the scrutiny, Draper maintained that his arm felt healthy during the match, a major positive after he was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open earlier this year.

Perspective After Injury

In a candid post-match interview with Sky Sports, Draper reflected on the long road back from his layoff. Having played only one match in the latter half of last season, he acknowledged that regaining momentum "will take time." He remained pragmatic about the loss, noting that if he had been offered his current physical standing back in January, he would have taken it. Draper emphasized the need to "keep chipping away" with his team, viewing the competitiveness of the Miami encounter as a necessary step toward returning to his peak form.