Jack Draper: British number one beats Karen Khachanov to win ATP title in Vienna
Draper has long been seen as the future of British men’s tennis, and now he is very much the player setting the standard.
Improvements this year have resulted in him becoming only the fourth player from the nation since 2009 – after Andy Murray, Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans – to win an ATP 500 title.
Taking time away from his opponents with a high first-serve percentage has been a feature of Draper’s run in the Austrian capital.
This weapon continued to be effective in a dominant first set against Khachanov.
Draper took the initiative early with a break of serve in the third game, continually asking questions with his consistent returning and drawing Khachanov into a series of mistakes from the baseline.
His confidence was clear as he secured the opening set having won 18 of his 18 first-serve points.
“I felt I was playing against PlayStation at the beginning – I had no chance,” said Khachanov.
Draper had lost just five of his 34 matches this year when he had won the first set.
He quickly asserted himself in the second set to ensure that formidable record would be bolstered.
A rattled-looking Khachanov produced a double fault to hand over another break in the first game of the second set, which Draper took with a brilliant drop shot after patiently picking his moment.
Another break to love for Draper was followed by a hold to love for 4-0.
Then he started to find fewer first serves and made more unforced errors to give hope to Khachanov.
After the former world number eight clawed one break back, the strain on Draper started to show.
His first double fault of the match indicated tightness and handed over a second break point at 4-3 for Khachanov, who then held to move 5-4 ahead.
But an extraordinary finish saw Draper dig deep and recover the advantage that his level over the match deserved.
“I didn’t feel I was too nervous or too tight, just a couple of wrong decisions and Karen started swinging and upping his level,” said Draper.
“I stayed solid and mentally in a good frame and came through. It is a relief.”
