Jack Draper conquered the ATP 500 title in Vienna following a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Karen Khachanov in the final. The 22-year-old sealed the deal in an hour and 35 minutes, becoming the fourth British player to lift a trophy at this event after Greg Rusedski, Tim Henman and Andy Murray. A left-hander cracked the top-15 with 500 ATP points on his tally, hoping for another good run in Paris. Khachanov claimed the title in Almaty last week but could not repeat that in Vienna, falling in straight sets despite excellent resistance from 4-6, 0-4.
Jack Draper & Karen Khachanov, Vienna 2024© Facebook – Erste Bank Open
Draper’s numbers against Khachanov
Both players struggled behind the second serve, and Jack made the difference with a reliable performance on the first. The Briton denied three of five break points and grabbed four breaks from eight opportunities, including the crucial one in the closing stages of the second set. The young gun fired up his forehand and landed 32 winners and 20 unforced errors. Khachanov finished the duel on a 16-19 ratio, hitting more service winners but struggling from the baseline. Draper forged the advantage in the shortest and mid-range exchanges, taming his strokes nicely and wrapping up a perfect week in the Austrian capital.
Jack Draper, Vienna 2024© Facebook – Erste Bank Open
Jack makes a flying start
The 7th seed dropped four points in his games in the opening set, keeping the pressure on the other side and delivering one break to make the difference. Khachanov held at love in the first game of the duel before experiencing a blow at 1-1. The Russian squandered a 40-15 advantage and fell on the second break point following a massive forehand error. Draper landed an ace in the fourth game, holding at love and cementing the advantage. Karen denied two break points in the fifth game, remaining within one break deficit before his rival landed an ace in the next one for a 4-2 lead. A left-handed painted a backhand down the line winner in the eighth game, moving 5-3 in front and forcing his opponent to serve to stay in the set. The Russian closed the ninth game at love, extending the battle and hoping to find the rhythm on the return in the next one. Instead, the Briton landed a forehand crosscourt winner, wrapping up the first part of the duel 6-4 in 39 minutes.
Karen Khachanov, Vienna 2024© Facebook – Erste Bank Open
Draper seals the deal with a late break in set number two
With a boost on his side, the young gun rattled off 16 of the opening 18 points in the second set, forging a 4-0 advantage and sailing toward the top. Jack landed a drop shot winner in the first game, delivering a break at love and drawing Karen’s mistake in the next one to confirm it and move 2-0 in front. With nothing working his way, Khachanov sprayed a backhand error in the third game and faced three break points. The more experienced player missed another backhand, losing serve at love for the second straight time and falling further behind. Draper cracked a forehand down the line winner in the fourth game, producing a hold at love and building a massive advantage after 55 minutes. The 22-year-old extended the fifth game with a drop shot winner and added two more, standing two points away from a possible bagel three times.
Jack Draper & Karen Khachanov, Vienna 2024© Facebook – Erste Bank Open
However, the Russian kept his composure and held with a service winner, ending his downfall and launching a comeback. Karen found the rhythm on the return in the sixth game and secured a break at love after Jack’s wayward forehand. The Briton netted another forehand in the seventh game, allowing his opponent to reduce the deficit further. Feeling the momentum, Karen made another push on the return in the eighth game. He generated break points and welcomed Draper’s double fault on the second to pull the second break back and lock the result at 4-4. The Russian painted a forehand down the line winner in the ninth game, completing his comeback and opening a 5-4 advantage. A left-hander pulled himself together after two loose service games, blasting a backhand crosscourt winner in the tenth game and leveling the score at 5-5 for more drama.
Khachanov failed to reach a tie break, ending his streak of fine service games in game 11 and falling behind. Jack created break chances with a crafty drop shot and passed his rival with a backhand crosscourt winner on the second to open a 6-5 gap and serve for the title. The drama was on when Draper missed a volley at the net, offering his rival two break points that could have turned the tables. The young gun saved the first with a forehand winner and landed a service winner on the second, reaching a deuce and creating a match point with a volley winner at the net. Jack drew Karen’s mistake, sealing the deal and falling to the ground, celebrating his career-best result.