Cincinnati comeback: Draper outlasts Auger-Aliassime to secure Quarter-Final berth

ATP
Saturday, 17 August 2024 at 04:00
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Jack Draper defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime in an intense match, winning 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, and advances to the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open. After a closely contested battle, the Brit No. 1 reaches the quarter-finals of a Masters 1000 for the second time in his career and will rise to his highest-ever ranking.

Draper edges past Auger-Aliassime

In the first set, both players were aggressive. Auger-Aliassime (No. 19) managed 8 winners compared to Draper’s 9, while the Canadian made a total of 12 unforced errors against the Brit’s 7. Both players held their service games well, with the first break point opportunity only arriving in the 9th game, which Auger-Aliassime managed to save.
When it seemed the set would be decided in a tie-break, Draper faltered under pressure, and Auger-Aliassime secured the break on his first opportunity, closing the set 7-5.
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Jack Draper at 2024 Wimbledon.
In the second set, the pattern seemed to continue, with both players serving without facing break points. However, Felix paid the price for his issues with his first serve (just 46% across the first and second sets), allowing Draper to secure a break in the 5th game, which was enough to take the set 6-4 and force a decider.
Both players continued to hold their serve well in the final set, but this time, the Canadian showed more aggression, hitting 11 winners to Draper’s 7. However, in the 7th game, Draper once again managed to break and, without giving his opponent any further chances, secured the victory 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 after two and a half hours. The match ended in controversy after a dubious match point, which ended up favoring Brit.
Draper reaches the quarter-finals of a Masters 1000 for the second time in his career (the first was at the 2022 Canadian Open) and achieves his highest-ever ranking as world No. 24. In the quarter-finals, he will face the 15th seed Holger Rune, who defeated Gael Monfils (No. 44) on Friday afternoon, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

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