Competing in his eighth Tour-level semifinal, Britain No. 1 Jack Draper put on a stunning display to beat sixth seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 49 minutes, progressing to his maiden ATP 500 career final at the Erste Bank Open on Saturday in Vienna.
“I’m ok, it’s just been a long season,” the young British player said after the contest. “I couldn’t play at all last week, but I’m trying to do my best here.”
“Lorenzo played great but luckily gave me a few free points. The crowd here is so great; it makes you feel good.”
The world No. 18 is returning from injury at the event; a month ago, he retired from his quarterfinal match in Tokyo, handing a walkover to Frenchman Ugo Humbert.
On Saturday, he set off a solid performance, breaking early in the first set and holding after a spectacular 19-shot rally to open a 2-0 advantage.
A physical match forced Musetti to raise his level, converting his first break in the fourth game to set the score even at 2-2.
However, he would drop serve in the fifth and seventh games, misfiring often with his forehand.
As frustration grew from the Italian side of the net, Draper remained calm, moving extremely well, covering all angles while displaying finesse around the net to take the opener 6-2 in 40 minutes.
The 22-year-old picked up where he left off to earning the first break of the second set in the third game, moving ahead 2-1.
The US Open semifinalist fended off break points to hold, but Musetti kept fighting, firing his sharp backhand until he found an edge to convert the break at 4-4.
Despite all efforts, the two-time ATP titlist momentum was short-lived as the seventh seed clinically broke back before pocketing the set 6-4 and the match to advance into his third final of the season.
The talented British player will reach a new career-high on Monday, becoming the world No. 15, regardless of Sunday’s match outcome.
“I’d say a Grand Slam semifinal is probably a bigger match, but at the same time, to be in the final at a 500 after all the work I’ve put in this year and the season I’ve had; I am incredibly grateful and really happy to be in this situation,” he added. “Roll on tomorrow.”
Next, he will meet Kazakhstan champion Karen Khachanov for the title.
In blistering form, the world No. 24 took down second seed Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-4 after one hour and 30 minutes, punching his ticket into the final in Austria earlier on Saturday.
Khachanov, 28, leads Draper 2-1 in their series, having met for the last time in Adelaide 2023, a match the latter won in straight sets.
The Moscow native is on a seven-match winning streak, building upon momentum after claiming his seventh ATP title in Almaty last week.
Healthy, Draper is enjoying a breakthrough season, having achieved his maiden title on tour in Stuttgart, cracking into the top 20 in the rankings after making it through the US Open semifinals - fell to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
“Top 20! I remember 14 months ago, I was sitting on the couch at home watching the Wimbledon final and seeing my ranking drop outside the top 100,” he shared through social media early in September.
“Head was in the shed! [It] shows what consistent work and great people around you can do!! Hungry for more.”
From 2021 to 2023, he strived with a series of injuries, sidelining the player from official competition.