In Vienna
Draper defends Musetti in Vienna SFs to secure ATP 500, top 15 success
The Briton will face either De Minaur or Khachanov in the biggest final of his career
October 26, 2024
in motion/Sascha Feuster
Jack Draper defeated Lorenzo Musetti on Saturday at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.
By ATP staff
Even as the 2024 season enters its final weeks, Jack Draper continues to tread new ground.
The Briton maintained his momentum to beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday afternoon and reach the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. Draper fought a topsy-turvy second set, in which she let go of a 4-2 lead and had to withstand a clear increase in Musetti’s level, before completing a one-hour, 49-minute victory.
“I thought the first set was really high on my part,” Draper said. “Lorenzo is definitely a strong competitor. I have known him since I was little and playing with him is always difficult. He had an amazing season. “The second set was really up and down. There were long points and certainly some nerves and difficult moments, but I’m really proud of how I kept fighting and going. I finally did it.”
🎶 Super super Jack, super JACK DRAPER 🎶
Lights out tennis since @jackdraper0 sees the talented Brit reach his first ATP 500 final!#ErsteBankOpen | @ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/YjLC4MjSJP
– ATP Tour (@atptour) October 26, 2024
Draper converted five of his 10 break points to take Musetti down, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Even when he was pushed back by the Italian while serving at 4-2 in the second set, he kept his cool to provide a strong response with a break in the next game.
After extending his Lexus ATP Head2Head lead against Musetti to 3-0, Draper earned his spot in his first ATP 500 final, the biggest title match of his career. The 22-year-old reached three ATP 250 finals in the last 12 months: in Sofia at the end of 2023 (l to Mannarino), and in Adelaide (l. to Lehecka) and Stuttgart (d. Berrettini) earlier this year. a year.
“My biggest final yet. “I’m in the 250 final,” said Draper, who also reached his first major semifinal at this year’s US Open. to be in the final with 500 after all the work I’ve done this year and the season I’ve had, I’m incredibly grateful and I’m very happy to be in this position. Continue tomorrow.”
Draper will face second-seeded Alex de Minaur or Karen Khachanov in Vienna knowing he will climb to a career-high No. 15 in next Monday’s edition of the PIF ATP Rankings.
