Great Britain’s Jack Draper and Dan Evans eased into the second round of the European Open with respective straight-sets wins in Antwerp.
The up-and-coming Draper was the first up of the Brits on centre court against Jenson Brooksby of the USA, and he eased to a 6-1 6-2 win in just over an hour.
The 20-year-old broke in the fourth and six games of the first set during a dominant performance, ultimately winning five games in a row to take the first set.
It was a near-identical story in the second set for Brooksby, who held in his opening service game before the sheer power and talent of Draper came to the fore again.
The Brit won another five games on the bounce – including a break to love for a 4-1 lead – and despite missing one match point, he sealed a 61-minute win with a fifth ace of the day.
“On my service games I was hitting my spots really well,” Draper said in his on-court interview. “I wasn’t missing many returns as well. Jenson is someone who competes really well, so I felt that it was important to get on the front foot and not let him play his game because he is so awkward. I am glad with the way I played.”
Draper – who hit a total of 17 winners on the day and posted just three unforced errors – will meet Polish first seed Hubert Hurkacz in the second round, where he will be joined by Evans.