Inspired Jack Draper chases Vienna-Paris Masters double

Jack's numbers against Taylor Fritz

Draper and Fritz could have met much further in the draw, but that was not the case. The younger player claimed two points more, playing better behind the first serve and facing only two break points. Taylor converted them to remain in contention but felt the pressure in his games. World no. 6 dropped 36% of the points behind the serve and played against ten break points. He did an excellent job defending eight, although a late break in the decider cost him dearly. The Briton landed 36 winners and 47 unforced errors, leaving his opponent on a 27-36 ratio. The younger player led 35-31 in service winners, losing ground a bit from the baseline after too many forehand errors but softening the deficit with a better performance at the net. Taylor forged the lead in the mid-range and most extended exchanges. Jack erased it in the quickest ones up to four strokes, taking ten points more in that segment and emerging at the top.

Draper loses the advantage before claiming a tight opener

The Briton built a lead in the first set but could not bring it home, allowing his rival to pull the break back and reach a tie break. The younger player stayed focused and seized the third set point for an early advantage after 55 minutes. Taylor held after a deuce in the opening game of the duel but faced issues at 1-1, spraying a forehand error and offering his rival two break points. A left-hander claimed an extended rally on the second, firing a forehand winner and forging an early advantage. Jack fired a service winner in the fourth game, holding at love and cementing a break. World no. 15 provided another hold in the sixth game with a service winner before world no. 6 landed an ace in the next one for a hold at love, remaining within one break deficit.

An unreturned serve pushed Draper 5-3 up, serving well and hoping to wrap up the opener at 5-4. Suddenly, he netted a backhand and offered Fritz two break points. The 22-year-old sprayed a forehand error on the first, losing serve and allowing the US Open finalist to extend the battle. Taylor denied a break point in the 11th game with a forehand winner and reached a tie break. The Briton defended superbly in the fourth point and cracked a forehand down the line winner for a mini-break and a 3-1 lead. The American pulled it back in the seventh point with a forced error before facing two set points. Fritz saved them to increase the drama before Draper generated the third with a forehand winner. The 22-year-old seized it after the rival's forehand error, wrapping up the opener and moving in front.

Fritz earns a break in the second set and forces a decider

Taylor faced the exit door in the middle of the second set, denying six break points in the sixth game and delivering a break in the next one to make a difference. They served well early on, and Jack painted a backhand winner in the fifth game for a 3-2 lead. The Briton made the ultimate push on the return in the next one, generating those six break points. World no. 6 stayed composed and saved them, a couple with forehand winners. Draper lost ground after missing those chances, spraying a forehand mistake in the seventh game and losing serve at love. Fritz served for the set at 5-4 and held at 30, introducing a decider after an hour and 44 minutes.