Paris Masters: Jack Draper shines in Bercy, defeats Lehecka in straight sets

Tuesday, 29 October 2024 at 21:50

Jack Draper secured victory in his Paris Masters debut by defeating Jiri Lehecka in straight sets 7-5, 6-2. The British No. 1 had a service percentage of only 53%, but he achieved an incredible 96% effectiveness, conceding just one point on his first serve.

The world No. 15 didn’t face too many difficulties against Lehecka, though the first set was tight. Draper had a single break point, which he missed in the fifth game. Until 5-5, both players held serve consistently.

Read also

A shaky service game from Lehecka in the 11th game handed Draper the break, allowing him to secure the set 7-5 in 38 minutes. In the second set, things were balanced until 2-2, but Lehecka’s level noticeably dropped, with 11 unforced errors and just 50% of points won on his serve.

Draper eventually closed out the match 7-5, 6-2 after an hour and eight minutes, securing his place in the second round, where he’ll face fifth seed Taylor Fritz, who had a first-round bye.

"I'm really happy with the way I've progressed this year," said Draper, after claiming his second career title in Vienna this past weekend.

"I'll focus on next week and then I'm going to look forward to having a bit of time off and probably not thinking about tennis. It has been a long year and it has taken a lot out of me.

"And then I'll refresh and I'll go again for next year with even bigger motivation to really shake up those guys at the top of the game - the likes of Sinner and Alcaraz.

"If I can keep on improving physically and keep on getting more and more experience at this higher level against top players then I'm going to give myself a shot to hopefully be competing with those guys.

"But there's a lot of work to do."

Read also

Sky Sports Tennis

@SkySportsTennis

·Follow

"A Draper DEMOLITION job in Paris" 🔥 A dominant performance from Jack Draper sees him progress to Round 2 of the Rolex Paris Masters ⏩

Watch on X

7:08 PM · Oct 29, 2024

182

Read 1 reply

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

See author's posts

claps 0visitors 0

Paris Masters: Carlos Alcaraz pulls through against Nicolas Jarry with a misleading score

Daily Dose of Social Media: Jabeur joins Sabalenka for football with young fans, Rublev bleeds after hitting his knee with racquet