Draper withstands Khachanov in dramatic Vienna final

  • Posted: Oct 27, 2024

It was a sigh of relief for Jack Draper on Sunday after he withstood a late charge from Karen Khachanov to clinch the Erste Bank Open title. 

The Briton stood firm in a 6-4, 7-5 triumph to secure his second ATP Tour title. Trailing 0-4 in the second set, Khachanov rattled off five consecutive games to shift the momentum firmly in his favour. However, Draper dialled back in to win the biggest title of his career.

“I was playing so good, and then the momentum shifted,” said Draper, who improved to 37-21 on the season. “Honestly, I didn’t feel too nervous or tight, I just missed a few balls and made some wrong decisions, and Karen picked up his level. That’s a testament to how good he is, he’s a fighter and he’s in great form.

“It got really tight there, but I stayed solid and in a good mental frame. Luckily I was able to come through, it was a relief. To win my first ATP 500, it feels incredible. I am incredibly happy and so proud of myself and my team. It’s for moments like this, so I am going to enjoy it.”

With his one-hour 35-minute triumph, Draper became the first player to win the tournament on his debut since countryman Andy Murray did so in 2014. In a stellar season, the 22-year-old will rise to a new career-high of No. 15 in the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday.

Prior to Sunday’s championship match, Khachanov held a perfect 4-0 record in indoor tour-level finals. The 28-year-old was also on an eight-match winning streak after lifting his seventh ATP Tour title last week in Almaty, but was unable to force a deciding set. 

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“I want to congratulate Jack and his team for this win, you deserved that,” said Khachanov. “You went for it the whole week. You are rising up this season and I wish you all the success in the future. I’m looking forward to sharing the court again and taking revenge for this loss.

“Once you’re in the final, you’re thinking about winning it. But I can’t complain, the last two weeks have been great. Coming from winning last week and playing the final here in Vienna for the first time, I just want to thank my team.

“I was close to coming back, and that just shows you need to stay there, be positive and fight hard. [We have] a great example here of doing that in Thomas [Muster].”

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Having levelled the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 2-2, Draper became just the fourth British man to win an ATP 500 title. 

Draper was imperious on serve throughout the first set, during which he won 95 per cent (18/19) of points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats. In a pendulum-swinging second set, Khachanov ignited some of his most scintillating tennis, but it was Draper who held his nerve to cross the line.

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