Jack Draper notched up his maiden ATP 500 with a bullish display against Russia’s Karen Khachanov.
The Brit continued his stellar season with both his second title of the year and his career.
A title in Stuttgart over the summer came mere months before Jack Draper played himself into the US Open semi-finals without dropping a set.
Despite defeat and an injury setback, the Brit has returned in full flow, picking up his first ATP 500 title in Vienna.
A second-set wobble slightly obscured what was effectively a procession to the title, with the Brit coming through 6-4, 7-5.
Jack Draper owns second set lapse in Vienna final
Khachanov described the first set like playing on the ‘playstation’ with the Brit more or less unplayable at times.
Up 4-0 in the second, whether it was nerves, a raise in the Russian’s level, or the disconnection of his controller, Draper lost five straight games to put his hopes of the title in jeopardy.
However, a swift recovery saw the Brit win the next three to secure the second set and the title.
Speaking afterwards, Draper told Sky Sports: “I was playing so good and then the momentum shifted a little bit. I didn’t feel too tight or too nervous. I just missed a few balls here and there.
“I made a couple of wrong decisions and Karen started swinging, picking up his level. That is testament to how good he is. He’s a fighter. I got a bit tight but I stayed solid, stayed in a good frame mentally and luckily I was able to come through when it mattered.”
Relishing a brilliant week in Austria, Draper added: “The late nights, the early mornings are to play some amazing tennis in front of packed crowds in big arenas. It makes it worth it.”
Jack Draper is marching towards the top 10
His powerful game, marked by a strong serve and explosive forehand, has allowed him to compete with some of the best players in the world.
With wins over Carlos Alcaraz this year, Draper’s growth has made him a formidable opponent across different surfaces, although the hard-courts have brought him the most joy recently.
With the Australian Open approaching, the valuable ranking points and boost in confidence will hopefully allow him to improve on his best run in Melbourne, having only ever made the second round.
If he maintains this trajectory, a place in the top 10 seems increasingly within reach.
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