A RUSTY Jack Draper vomited again at the US Open but battled through to make tomorrow’s second round on his return from injury.

The world number five was playing his first match since a shock loss to Marin Cilic at Wimbledon more than seven weeks ago, after which he was diagnosed with bone bruising in his left arm and forced to take time away from the court.

He eventually came through in four sets against 203rd-ranked Argentinian qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez, wrapping up a 6-4 7-5 6-7 (7) 6-2 victory after one minute over three hours.

“It was a tough match,” said Draper, who admitted he feared he would be forced to miss the tournament where 12 months ago he reached the semi-finals.

“Obviously haven’t played competitively singles-wise for a while now. Credit to him. I thought he played some good stuff at times.

“From my side, it wasn’t obviously my finest performance...just really proud of the fact that I’m here and that I’m able to come through today.

“With the injury I had in my arm, the return to competition is probably about eight weeks — I’m here seven weeks, so I’m early.

“As I’ve gotten closer to the tournament, me and my team, we’ve had more scans, we’re confident that I’m not doing any more damage to my arm, and I’m in a place where I can go out and compete.”

Draper struggled on serve and was again slightly sick during a service game in the third set.

Last year here he vomited several times during his semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner but Draper played down any concerns, saying: “I felt physically fine. Potentially a bit of nervous energy. I’ve always had some problems with my gut.”

Initially it appeared Draper was managing the match well while playing considerably within himself but three double faults in one game late in the second set was unusual, and Gomez was beginning to cause some real problems.

The 28-year-old Argentinian spent two years as a coach in Miami before deciding to pursue his dream and he was throwing everything he had at Draper, with his big forehand a real weapon.

Gomez went a break ahead early in the third set and, although Draper pegged him back, a match point came and went in the tie-break and he was pushed into a fourth.

Draper looked like he could be in serious trouble, but he regathered himself well after an off-court break and finished with some of his best tennis of the contest.

“I needed tennis in my legs,” said the Londoner, who will take on Belgian Zizou Bergs in the second round tomorrow.

“I needed to play a three-hour match. 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.”