DEFENDING champion Jack Draper insists he is a contender for the Indian Wells title again.

The British number one lifted the biggest trophy of his career in the Californian desert 12 months ago but returns looking to kick-start his comeback from eight months out with an arm injury.

Draper played his first ATP Tour event since Queen’s last June in Dubai last week, losing in the second round to Arthur Rinderknech.

Speaking at a pre-tournament press conference, Draper said: “I feel like I wouldn’t be here, wouldn’t be in the tournament, if I didn’t feel like I could go all the way again.

“That was probably the primary reason I didn’t go out to Australia, just purely because, if I’m going to enter a tournament, I’m going to be in the event, I want to feel like I can be physically ready to not just take part but to go all the way, because I believe in my tennis so much that, when I get out there, I know that I can play some great stuff.

“At this point, truthfully, I’m just very grateful to be back on the court, to be back on the tour.”