Alex De
Minaur clinched a hard-fought battle against Jack Draper to secure his spot in
the Paris Masters quarterfinals with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 victory. The Australian
kept his composure during difficult moments and remained the more consistent
player throughout the match.
On the other hand, the 22-year-old Draper displayed moments
of brilliant play but couldn’t maintain it consistently. Draper struggled with
his first serve, an area that cost him dearly against a player like De Minaur,
and at times, he visibly displayed frustration with his game.
De Minaur’s tenacity outlasts Draper’s flashes of brilliance
In the first set, both players had first-serve percentages
below 50%, though Draper held the edge in effectiveness. The first break went
to the Brit in the sixth game, and he then extended his lead to 5-2 after
winning 11 consecutive service points.
However, De
Minaur didn’t give up. He held his serve without much trouble and capitalized
on his first break opportunity to level at 5-5. Just when it seemed a tiebreak
was likely, Draper found his forehand and broke De Minaur’s serve to take the
set 7-5. Both players tallied over 15 unforced errors in the set.
The second set started well for De Minaur, who reduced his
unforced errors to just four compared to Draper's 16. A break in the third game
and a 74% serve effectiveness made it nearly impossible for Draper to recover.
Draper’s shaky service game led to a second break for the Aussie, who won the
set 6-2 to even the match.
Read also
De Minaur seized an early break in the third set, aided by a
couple of Draper’s unforced errors. The 22-year-old Brit’s frustration was
evident as he smashed his racket on the court, earning a code violation for
unsportsmanlike conduct.
The Australian seemed to be in control, but Draper fought
back, winning long rallies and breaking back to level at 2-2. Yet, De Minaur
quickly reclaimed the break without dropping a point and held on to his lead.
In the ninth game, De Minaur secured another break and sealed a hard-earned
5-7, 6-2, 6-3 victory. His next opponent will be the winner of the upcoming
match between Holger Rune (No. 13) and local lucky loser Arthur Cazaux (No.
85).
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.
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