Jack Draper’s remarkable season reached another high on Saturday as he made it through to his first ATP 500 final at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.
The British No 1, benefiting from a month’s break before the tournament, produced another brilliant performance to defeat Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti 6-2 6-4 in one hour and 48 minutes.
The 22-year-old, who lost in straight sets to world No 1 Jannik Sinner in the US Open semi-finals last month, reached his fourth Tour-level final and is now on course to landing a second career title following his victory in Stuttgart this summer.
Draper, who will play the winner of the match between Australian second seed Alex de Minaur and Karen Khachanov, told Sky Sports: “I thought the first set was really high level from my side.
“Lorenzo is a really tough competitor and the second set was up and down, some nerves and some difficult moments. Luckily, in the end I got it done.
“I suppose it’s my biggest final yet. To be in the final of a 500 after the season I’ve had, I’m incredibly grateful.”
De Minaur is chasing his ATP Finals debut and could pass Andrey Rublev in eighth position with the title in Vienna.
Having broken Musetti’s serve in the opening game, Draper recovered from being broken back to reel off four games in a row and take the first set.
Musetti, a Wimbledon semi-finalist this year, dropped serve again early in the second.
Draper, who had won their previous two matches, came through two taxing service games but Musetti’s pressure told when he levelled at 4-4.
However, the momentum swung dramatically back in Draper’s favour thanks to a wretched service game from Musetti.
A clearly exhausted Draper took a medical time-out at 5-4 but came back out to wrap up victory and reach his first final at ATP 500 level.
Tale of the Tape
Draper continues to climb up the rankings
The Briton has now leapfrogged Musetti in the ATP Rankings to a career high of 15th.
British players to make Vienna final
Draper is the fourth British player to reach the final in Vienna after Greg Rusedski, Tim Henman and two-time winner Andy Murray.
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