Jack Draper and Karen Khachanov set Vienna title clash

Today at 07:54 AM

The young Briton Jack Draper is through to his first ATP 500 final in Vienna. World no. 18 took down Lorenzo Musetti 6-2, 6-4 in an hour and 48 minutes in the semi-final, advancing to his fourth ATP final and the first above the ATP 250 level. Draper is the fourth British player in the Vienna final, joining Greg Rusedski, Tim Henman and Andy Murray. Also, he will crack the top-15 on Monday regardless of the title clash outcome. Jack topped Lorenzo for the third time from as many indoor duels, forging a 6-2, 4-2 advantage and moving over the top with a late break in the second set.

The 7th seed took 18 points more than the 6th seed. Both players struggled behind the second serve, and the Briton made the difference on the first. Draper had the upper hand in the pivotal moments, defending eight of ten break points and securing five breaks from 11 opportunities. Jack tamed his strokes nicely and hit 28 winners and 22 unforced errors. Lorenzo could not follow that pace, finishing on a 14-30 ratio after missing from both wings. The Briton landed more service winners and had the edge from the baseline and net, emerging as a deserved winner. Draper forged the advantage in the shortest and most advanced rallies, holding the strings of the duel in his hands and arranging the title clash against Karen Khachanov.

A left-hander made a reliable start, delivering three breaks in the opener for 6-2 and a boost. The Italian netted a forehand in the first game of the encounter for an early setback. The Briton denied a break point in the second game, holding after deuces before his rival pulled the break back two games later with a backhand down the line return winner, locking the result at 2-2. Jack kept his composure and grabbed another break in the fifth game after forcing the rival's mistake. The 7th seed confirmed it with a comfortable hold and made another push on the return at 4-2. A left-hander cracked a forehand down the line winner in the seventh game, providing his third break and serving for the opener. Draper seized the third set point with a service winner, moving 6-2 in front after 40 minutes.

Lorenzo struggled behind the initial shot at 1-1 in the second set. The Briton painted a backhand down the line winner on the fourth break point, forging a set and a break advantage. Jack survived five deuces in the fourth game and faced more problems at 3-2. A left-hander survived three break points and held for 4-2. Lorenzo faced the exit door in the seventh game, playing against two break points. The Italian saved them and held, remaining within one break deficit. Musetti made the ultimate push on the return in the eighth game, draining the rival's energy and converting the fifth break chance to lock the result at 4-4 and increase the drama. Instead of building on that, the 6th seed sprayed a forehand error in the ninth game, experiencing another break and falling 5-4 behind. Draper served for the win in game ten and sealed the deal with a service winner, booking a place in his most notable ATP final at 22.

Karen Khachanov will seek his second ATP indoor title in as many weeks. The Russian claimed the Almaty title last week and will seek another in Vienna after ousting the top-10 player Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-4 in an hour and a half. Karen will compete in his tenth ATP final and the most notable one since the Olympic Games in Tokyo three years ago. Khachanov fired nine aces and outplayed Alex behind the first and second serve. The more experienced player denied two of three break points in the only troubled service game and turned almost half of the return points into four breaks from six opportunities, controlling the pace and moving over the top. Karen landed 27 winners and 16 unforced errors, taming his strokes efficiently and outplaying his rival from the baseline and in the service winners department. The Russian forged the lead in the shortest and mid-range exchanges, playing well and hoping for more in the final.

Karen landed a forehand winner in the first game of the encounter for an early break. He opened a 4-2 lead with three reliable holds and delivered another break in game seven after the rival's forehand error. Khachanov served for the opener at 5-2 and landed an ace for a hold at love and 6-2 in 36 minutes.

De Minaur saved a break point early in the second set but could not follow the rival's pace, netting a forehand in the fifth game and falling a set and a break behind. Karen painted a backhand down the line winner in the seventh game for a break at love and a 5-2 advantage. He served for the win in game eight and played the only loose service game, getting broken on Alex's third chance. The Russian fixed that at 5-4, firing a forehand winner at the net and sealing the deal in style for his tenth ATP final.