Jack Draper downs Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets to reach maiden ATP 500 final at Erste Bank Open in Vienna
By Ben Southby
Published 26/10/2024 at 19:25 GMT+1
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Jack Draper will have the chance to add a second career title to his name after he reached his maiden ATP 500 final at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. The British No. 1 overcame Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets and will face Karen Khachanov in Sunday’s final. "Some nerves and some difficult moments," Draper said after the match. "Luckily in the end I got it done."
Highlights: Draper beats Musetti in straight sets to reach final in Vienna
Video credit: SNTV
Jack Draper has reached the first ATP 500 final of his career after beating Lorenzo Musetti at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna on Saturday.
The 22-year-old Brit came through in straight sets, posting a 6-2 6-4 victory over the Italian No. 2 in another excellent display as his remarkable season continues.
Draper will face Karen Khachanov in Sunday’s final, where he will aim to secure his second career title.
“I thought the first set was a really high level from my side,” Draper said after the match.
“Definitely Lorenzo is a really tough competitor. I’ve known him since I was really young and playing against him is always so difficult. He’s had an incredible season.
“The second set was really up and down. There were some long points and definitely some nerves and difficult moments, but I’m really proud of the way I kept on fighting and kept on going.
"In the end I got it done.”
The British No. 1, who dropped just one set on his journey to the final, started the contest well and broke Musetti in the opening game.
He prevented his Italian counterpart from gaining an instant response as he battled from break-point to double his advantage, but eventually lost serve in the fourth game as Musetti pulled level.
But Draper gained a brilliant double break to move to within a game of taking the first set, which he settled with a third set point to take the lead.Â
After holding to love in his opening service game of the second set, Musetti could not resist the pressure from the in-form US Open semi-finalist, as he broke the sixth seed at the third time of asking for a 2-1 lead.
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A deuce tug-of-war followed in a close fourth game which Draper edged for a two-game cushion, and then the Sutton-born star had to defend three break points as Musetti tied to find a route back.
He spurned two break points of his own that would have seen him take a 5-2 advantage, but instead, Musetti broke Draper in the eighth game to level the set at 4-4.
But Draper struck back to 15 for 5-4 and then wrapped up the match in the following game for a landmark victory.
De Minaur beaten as Khachanov sets up Draper showdown
World No. 10 Alex de Minaur was beaten in straight sets in the opposite semi-final, as No. 24 ranked Khachanov moved past the Australian to reach Sunday's final.
The Russian reigned supreme with a 6-2 6-4 scoreline to eliminate the second seed, who lost to Draper in the quarter-final of the US Open in September.
Khachanov is in fine form, and has won eight consecutive matches following his victory at the ATP 250 Almaty Open event last week.
Only Draper stands in the way of the 28-year-old and back-to-back titles, which would be an eighth career ATP trophy.
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