MATCH REPORT | 2023 Sofia Open: Jack DRAPER success continues, downs Jan-Lennard STRUFF to make final

Jack Draper has continued his successful run at the 2023 Sofia Open by defeating third seed Jan-Lennard Struff in the semi-final 6-3, 6-4.

The Brit is yet to drop a set at the ATP 250 tournament in Bulgaria, having defeated Germany's Maximilian Marterer, top seed Lorenzo Musetti, and Turkey's Cem İlkel to set up the semi-final clash with the German player and World No. 28 Struff.

In the first set, Draper broke Struff for a 4-2 lead after an exchange of breaks earlier in the match. Although the 21-year-old's next service game went to a deuce while Struff got two chances to break back, Draper ultimately held. Struff showed signs of launching a comeback as he won his next service game with a W-0 hold, but it turned out to be too late as his opponent successfully served for the set in the next game.

In the second set, it looked as though Struff was heading toward a break as he built up three break points on Draper's first service game. However, his opponent was able to take it to a deuce and hold. This happened again in the British player's next service game, as the 33-year-old got two more break points that he was unable to successfully convert.

Draper then had an unsuccessful break point in Struff's next service game, with both players holding until the score was level at 3-3. It was at this point that Draper edged ahead, taking his opponent's next service game to a deuce and securing the advantage before winning break point. This proved to be crucial, as he was then able to consolidate the break with a W-0 hold and ultimately served for the set, where he won a battle on deuce to book his place in the final.

Draper has now moved up to World No. 60 in the live ranking, and he will face the winner of the match between World No. 80 Pavel Kotov and World No. 25 Adrian Mannarino in the final.