Landaluce, after defeating Draper in Cincinnati: "I love playing in big stadiums, that's where my best level shows up"

Andrés Tomás Rico - 13 Aug 2026 | 22:05
ATP Martín Landaluce Jack Draper ATP Cincinnati 2026

The Spanish player made a victorious debut against the British player, thus breaking a nearly two-month streak without winning a match.

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Landaluce, after defeating Draper in Cincinnati: "I love playing in big stadiums; that's where my best level shows." Photo: Getty Images

Martín Landaluce returned to the path of victory after more than a month and a half without knowing triumph. The Madrid player redeemed himself in his debut at the 2026 Cincinnati Masters 1000 against Jack Draper, who is still on a downward slope without brakes. After saving six set points in the second set and overcoming a 5-2 deficit, the Spaniard clinched the victory with a score of 6-3, 7-5. In the second round, he awaits Matteo Arnaldi and Novak Djokovic in a hypothetical third round.

And regarding his level shown on the hard courts of Ohio, he spoke in the on-court interview with TennisTV: "I did some very good things today. What I did best was trust in myself and believe in my good shots. At times the serve didn't work, he was serving well, so it was difficult, but I tried to stay in it at all times".

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Martín Landaluce revealed the keys to his victory over Jack Draper at the Cincinnati Masters 1000

The Madrid player also recalled that difficult second set that he eventually turned around: "I am very happy to have won that second set because it was very tough. I kept trusting in myself, even making some big mistakes at times. But my best game is when I try to hit ‘winners’ and try to play better than my opponents. Today it happened at times, so I am very happy. I think the important thing today was to believe in my shots, believe in my game".

 

Once the match was analyzed, Landaluce focused on the reason for his great level displayed throughout 2026, where he has managed to break through the Top 100 and the Top 50: "I think that to be one of the best players, to be among the best, you have to play really well. You have to play better than them at the important moments. They are not going to miss. They are not going to lower their level. So you have to play better than them. That is what I have been trying to do since the beginning of the year and it has worked very well for me".

A jump in level that has been confirmed by reaching two quarter-finals of Masters 1000 (Miami Open and US Open). Indeed, Martín Landaluce rises to the occasion when playing against the best players and in the best tournaments: "The Masters 1000 have been very rewarding. I have already reached two quarter-finals this season. I love playing in big stadiums. I love playing with the crowd. I love the atmosphere. I enjoy playing on high-level courts against great rivals. I enjoy playing like this, and I think that's where my best level appears".
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Landaluce, tras vencer a Draper en Cincinnati: "Me encanta jugar en estadios grandes, ahí es donde aparece mi mejor nivel"