by British No. 1 Jack Draper wasted no time reaching his first quarter-final at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna on Thursday after a clinical performance.
Draper, looking to cap the best season of his career in style with a second ATP title of the year, edged Italian world number 42 Luciano Darderi 7-5, 6-1 in 76 minutes to reach the final eight.
He will meet Czech Tomas Machac in a repeat of their meeting in the fourth round of the US Open, which the Brit won comfortably.
The 22-year-old, who marked his comeback after an injury with a win over Kei Nishikori in the preliminary round, served excellently throughout and hit a total of 15 aces.
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A lost food delivery briefly interrupted Draper’s match at the Vienna Open
Four of those came in a row as he served in the first set after breaking Darderi in the 11th game, with two net cords going against the hapless Italian.
Draper broke serve again in the first game of the second set and Darderi, who beat Dominic Thiem on Tuesday in the final match of former US Open champion’s career, could not find a way back into contention.
“I struggled a little bit in the first round, I served pretty well, but I could have been a lot better from the ground and then I really found a level today,” Draper said in a pre-court interview.
“I thought Darderi played incredibly well in the first set. I had a few chances and had to stay calm.”
“There were a few moments of frustration but I think he really brought out the best in my tennis today and I’m really happy with how consistent my level was today.”
Draper, who retired with an abdominal injury in the quarter-final against Ugo Humbert in Tokyo last month, added: “I didn’t know what to expect after the injury and I was also sick for a week so I…Possibly would it would be a bit rusty and my body wouldn’t feel particularly good.
“But I felt like I was really strong the last two games and my movement and confidence in everything I do increased today.”
“I’m really happy with it and hopefully I can continue this week.”
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Highlights from the match between Draper and Machac at the US Open
Draper will next face Machac after the unseeded Czech came from a set down to beat third seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-3.
Draper has had a memorable year: He won his first ATP title at the Stuttgart Open in June, before defeating Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s a few days later and then reaching the US Open semi-finals, where he was defeated by the World number 1, Jannik Sinner, was defeated.
What can you expect from Sky Sports Tennis?
- Erste Bank Open, Vienna – ATP 500 (October 21-27 – Jack Draper in action on Friday)
- Swiss Indoors, Basel – ATP 500 (October 21-27)
- Guangzhou Open, China – WTA 250 (October 21-27)
- Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis, Tokyo – WTA 500 (October 21-27 – Katie Boulter in action on Friday)
- Hong Kong Tennis Open – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
- Jiangxi Open – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
- Merida Open Akron – WTA 250 (October 28th – November 3rd)
- Rolex Paris Masters – ATP 1000 (October 28th – November 3rd)
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