Superb Draper defeats Khachanov in gripping final to win Vienna Open title
The Briton beat Khachanov 6-4, 7-5 on Sunday to win the Vienna Open title, the first ATP 500 trophy of his career
Jack Draper wins the 2024 Erste Bank Open in Vienna © Heinz-Peter Bader/AP/SIPA
Jack Draper withstood a remarkable late comeback from Karen Khachanov to win the Vienna Open title in dramatic style, excellently overcoming the tenacious Russian 6-4, 7-5 in the Austrian capital.
It is the Briton’s second ATP title, both of the season and his career, having won his maiden trophy in Stuttgart this summer. Significantly though, it is Draper’s first 500-level title, securing the new milestone on his first appearance in a final at this level.
The current world No 18 will rise three places to 15th when the new ATP rankings are published tomorrow. This, again, is a noteworthy achievement for the 22-year-old, having told Tennis Majors at the end of last season that his aim was to end 2024 within the world’s top 20.
That target has now been officially met, and Draper’s trajectory is only going upwards as he backs up a wonderful run to the semi-finals of the US Open with a second title to add to his thoroughly impressive season.
A little over a month ago, Draper spoke of an overly congested schedule taking its toll as he struggled with fatigue across two losses for Great Britain at the Davis Cup. An injury in Tokyo then ruled him out of the Shanghai Masters, a twist of fate that appears to have worked in the Briton’s favour.
On his return from that injury in Vienna this week, Draper has played some of his finest tennis. He has looked sharp, fit and fully focused. When that is the case, Draper has shown that there are very few players around who can stop him.
After a string of greatly impressive performances, the Briton saved his very best for when it mattered most – he was superb in today’s final.
draper’s early dominance answered by stirring comeback from khachanov
It took Draper just three games to put an authoritative stamp on proceedings, breaking the Russian in the third game from 40-15 down. From there, Khachanov was under immense pressure, with Draper confidently rattling through his service games while making consistent inroads into his opponent’s.
Khachanov did well to save two break points in the fifth game and remain in touch. But, with Draper’s serve untouchable, the fate of the set was sealed as the Briton cantered to a one-set lead without facing a single break point.
The Briton’s already excellent level only elevated with the arrival of the second stanza. Mixing his unreturnable first serve and blistering groundstrokes with wonderfully timed drop shots executed to near perfection, Draper began to look imperious as he broke in the first and third games to power into a 4-0 lead, leaving his opponent completely rattled.
Yet what followed was a massive and utterly unexpected shift in momentum as a lengthy hold in the fifth game gave Khachanov the impetus he desperately needed. Earning his first break points of the contest, Khachanov clinched a break to love in the very next game. The door had been left ajar by a sudden dip in Draper’s intensity and first serve percentage, and the Russian barged his way right through it, breaking serve again in the eighth game either side of two holds to restore complete parity.
Suddenly it was Khachanov who could no wrong, as Draper did what he could to withstand the barrage of aggression and quality coming from across the net.
A crucial hold in the tenth game steadied the ship for the Briton before he struck the sucker-punch in the eleventh game with a decisive break of serve against the run of play.
Draper had to fend off a further two break points in the twelfth and final game before holding his nerve to serve out the win and clinch the biggest title of his career.
“I was playing so well, and then the momentum shifted a little bit,” Draper said in a post-match interview, referencing Khachanov’s late fightback.
“Honestly, I didn’t feel like I was too nervous or too tight, I just missed a couple of balls here and there. A couple of wrong decisions.
“I’ve loved being here. Honestly, Vienna’s an incredible tournament. So many amazing players in this draw and to win my first ATP 500 tournament here, it feels incredible. I’m incredibly happy. I’m so proud of myself and my team, all the work we’ve put, it’s for moments like this. So I’m going to enjoy it.”
jack draper’s long-held potential now being fulfilled
Draper adds his name to an illustrious list of high-calibre players to have won the Vienna Open over the years, one that includes fellow Brits Andy Murray, Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski.
But today’s victory is one that feels unmistakeably about the future. A player who has held such promise for so long, particularly in British tennis circles, is now seeing his huge potential realised.
Draper exhibited the great depth of his talents across the week in Vienna, but in the final he displayed a mental fortitude and strength of character that cannot be taught.
There was an authority to him throughout the contest, epitomised by the calm confidence of someone whose abilities elevate when pressure intensifies.
What was particularly striking was how Draper managed to swat away the surging comeback from Khachanov, himself an experienced and battle-hardened competitor.
Rather than shrinking from the weight of opportunity, Draper took the mantle onto his shoulders with a swagger, abruptly halting his opponent’s momentum to announce his own moment of history.
Draper’s maiden ATP 500 title has been won. And all the evidence suggests that this will be the first of many to come.
