Draper beats Bellucci to reach Japan Open last 16

Draper reached his first Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open earlier this month

Britain's Jack Draper is through to the Japan Open last 16 following a straight-set win over Mattia Bellucci.

World number 20 Draper beat the Italian 6-4 6-2 for his first victory since defeat by Jannik Sinner in the US Open semi-finals earlier this month.

The victory marks a return to form for the 22-year-old after a disappointing Davis Cup in Manchester where he lost his two singles matches.

Draper was beaten in straight sets by Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo and Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime as Great Britain failed to reach the knockout stage.

After edging the first set against world number 103 Belluci in Tokyo, Draper pulled away in the second as he opened up a 5-1 lead before seeing out victory.

Draper will play Polish second seed Hubert Hurkacz on Friday.

Elsewhere, Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas lost 4-6 6-1 6-2 to American Alex Michelsen.

American fifth seed Tommy Paul beat Italy's Matteo Arnaldi 6-3 6-2, while Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka edged Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 7-6 (7-5) in a match that lasted three hours and 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, British number three Harriet Dart lost 7-5 4-6 1-6 in the first round of the China Open against Denmark's Clara Tauson.