Vienna Open Final: Jack Draper breaks new ground with maiden ATP 500 title

Sunday, 27 October 2024 at 15:56

It has been a long road for British Number One, Jack Draper who has often been a player full of potential who has been utterly blighted by injuries.

But he continues to show why he is one of tennis' top talents. He has won the Vienna Open defeating Karen Khachanov in straight sets 6-4, 7-5.

It is a maiden ATP 500 title for the top 15 player as of next week who will be just behind Hubert Hurkacz in World No.14 to start next season and given that he has spent most of the last two seasons in and out with injury, his stark rise is likely to ascend towards the top 10.

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He won his maiden ATP title earlier in the season in Stuttgart at ATP 250 level which was seen as a big deal for the Brit who went on to beat Carlos Alcaraz at Queen's. He also reached the US Open semi-final losing to Jannik Sinner albeit battled injury in recent weeks. But this week has looked supreme including over Khachanov with the second set to win it in particular being special.

Khachanov reached the final last week in Almaty and is often known as the spoiler to big name ambitions. But he was second fiddle after the opening stanza. Draper broke once in the first to go 2-1 up which held the key and he had chances to break again that came and went. But in the second set, an early break was very much the tonic he needed. He broke Khachanov twice in a row to love and went 4-0 up in double quick time.

Not in the mood to mess about he looked to be heading towards the finishing line. Or so we thought. As Khachanov levelled up and lead at 5-4. Albeit Draper stayed firm. He produced a steady hold and then broke to go one away before finally winning despite surviving break point chances from his opponent in the process. He sealed the win finally 7-5.

Mario Boccardi

@marioboc17

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Jack Draper is the ATP 500 Vienna champion‼️ 6-4 7-5 vs. Karen Khachanov to secure his 2nd career ATP Tour title and the most important one He's the first British man since Andy Murray to be able to lift this title 🏆