by Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Vienna Open semi-final between Lorenzo Musetti and Jack Draper, including predictions, head-to-head and their tournament so far.
After a thrilling comeback victory to amaze Alexander Zverev, Lorenzo Musetti trying to end his losing streak Jack Draper in the semifinals of the Vienna Open on Saturday.
Both semi-finalists needed three sets to reach the last four, with Draper seemingly overcoming physical problems to prevail Tomas Machac in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Game preview
© Imago
Musetti proved his win over Zverev at the Paris Olympics was anything but a fluke when he prevailed over the 2021 champion in Vienna despite a slow start.
The Italian struggled in the first set, losing 6-2 and trailing 3-0 in the second set tiebreak before leveling the game and securing the deciding set, 2-6, 7-6 (5th). ) and ended 6:4 Victory led 2:1 in his direct duel with the world number 3.
Friday’s success was the 22-year-old’s eighth against top 10 opponents and his second successive triumph against Zverev, who lost serve four times in the round of 16 despite having served impressively all week before losing to the Olympia -Third.
Fresh from his biggest win on the surface and reaching the semi-finals in Vienna, Musetti hopes that momentum will boost his confidence as he takes on an opponent he has never beaten on tour.
© Imago
Although Draper’s three-set victory came 30 minutes shorter than Musetti’s comeback victory, the British No. 1 player held his nerve to force a decider and stayed on top to defeat Machac in the third set of the two-hour, six-minute 3- to defeat the set game. 6, 6-3, 6-1 success.
Fourteen of the Brit’s 38 winners came in the deciding set, highlighting his elevated level and quality execution against an opponent that entered Friday’s encounter 15-4 this season.
Machac’s 15th victory in such matches was a three-set triumph Grigor Dimitrov in round two in Vienna, but Draper found solutions to secure a place in his eighth round ATP Tour semifinals since turning pro six years ago.
Going into Saturday’s quarter-finals with a perfect record against Musetti should boost the world number 18’s confidence that he can make Sunday’s championship game at the Italian’s expense.
With several higher-ranked players eliminated before the semifinals, the 22-year-old’s chance of a second title in 2024 and a first on hard courts is closer than ever.
tournament so far
Lorenzo Musetti:
First round: vs. Lorenzo Sonego 6-3 6-2
Second round: vs. Gael Monfils Walkover
Quarterfinals: against Alexander Zverev 2-6 7-6(5) 6-4
Jack Draper:
First round: vs. Kei Nishikori 7-6(5) 7-5
Second round: Luciano Darderi 7-5 6-1
Quarterfinals: against Tomas Machac 6-3 3-6 6-1
Head to head
Sofia (2023) – Round of 16: Draper 7-5 6-2
Next Generation ATP Finals (2022) – Round Robin: Draper 4-1 4-0 4-3(3)
Draper goes into the semi-finals 2-0 in his direct duel against Musetti and wants to extend his lead in Vienna.
The British player has never lost a set against Musetti, highlighting his dominance in their encounters.
Since the pair last met in Sofia last November, Musetti has won six of eight against left-handed opponents, although her second loss in that period came against her recently Jungcheng Shang last month in Chengdu.
We say: Musetti wins in three sets
Saturday’s result may depend on Musetti returning competently and facing a player who has collected 37 aces this week.
Despite a 2-0 loss to Draper, we’re backing the fresher Italian – who received a bye in the second round after Monfils withdrew due to illness – to edge out the British No1 player for a place in Sunday’s title fight.
