Draper Captures Vienna Crown For Biggest Title Of His Career

Jack Draper, Vienna, Erste Bank Open
Jack Draper (photo: e|motion/Bildagentur Zolles KG/Christian Hofer)

VIENNA/WASHINGTON, October 27, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

History was waiting to be made as the 50th anniversary edition of the Erste Bank Open concluded with the crowning of a new champion Sunday afternoon inside Vienna’s sold-out Wiener Stadthalle.

No. 7 seed Jack Draper of Great Britain, who was attempting to be the first player to win the ATP 500 Vienna title in his tournament debut since his compatriot Andy Murray in 2014, faced unseeded and 24th-ranked Karen Khachanov of Russia, the winner of eight straight matches, who was looking to win his second consecutive ATP Tour title after capturing the crown at Almaty a week ago.

As it happened, the 17th-ranked Draper proved large and in charge from first ball to last ball and won 6-4, 7-5 in one hour and 35 minutes. The 6-foot-4 lefty from Sutton, England triumphed with pin-point accuracy of his serves as well as great timing and tactical sense.

Upon winning the last rally of the final, which ended with Khachanov hitting an errant fourth-shot forehand, Draper fell to the ground in celebration. He had just won the biggest tournament of his young career, which will lift him to a career-best World No. 15 in the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday, and improved his win-loss record on the 2024 season to 37-21.

“I was playing so good, and then the momentum shifted,” Draper said in his post-match interview with ATP Media before receiving his champion’s trophy and first-prize earnings of €461,920. “Honestly, I didn’t feel too nervous or tight, I just missed a few balls and made some wrong decisions, and Karen picked up his level. That’s a testament to how good he is, he’s a fighter and he’s in great form.

“It got really tight there, but I stayed solid and in a good mental frame. Luckily I was able to come through, it was a relief. To win my first ATP 500, it feels incredible. I am incredibly happy and so proud of myself and my team. It’s for moments like this, so I am going to enjoy it.”

From the outset, the 22-year-old Briton was lights out in his service games. After breaking Khachanov to go ahead 2-1, Draper consolidated with an ace to take a commanding 3-1 advantage. He was 8-for-8 winning points on his first serve in the early going and would finish by winning 32 of 40 (80 percent).

Next, Draper kept the pressure on Khachanov, gaining a 15-40 advantage before the Russian won the next four points to recover, and with an ace (No. 2) for good measure on game point. Then, Draper held at 15 with his third ace of the set to push ahead 4-2 and later held for 5-3. Serving for the set at 5-4, Draper hit his sixth ace and closed out the 40-minute opener with a solid, third-shot forehand winner.

Draper immediately broke Khachanov to open the second set and made it a double-break lead at love with his third break of the match for what appeared at the time to be an insurmountable 3-0 lead. Everything he hit was on-point and near-perfect, while Khachanov looked tired and played frazzled. But, as the 28-year-old Moscow native would soon show, he wasn’t ready to concede.

While Draper held at love with his 22nd winner for a 4-0 advantage, Khachanov recovered nicely to hold during a 12-point fifth game. Next, he erased one of the breaks in the sixth game to pull within 4-3, then got back on serve at 4-all after Draper committed his first double fault.

Next, Khachanov held at love for 5-4, having reeled off five games in a row. Soon, though, Draper broke with a brilliant sixth-shot, cross-court backhand winner to surge ahead 6-5. Although Khachanov gained a couple of break points in the next game, Draper rallied to deuce and gained a championship point.

Finally, Draper put away his first ATP 500 title on his first championship point — holding his nerve at the end — and the celebration was on. He ended Khachanov’s two-week winning streak, leveled their career head-head at 2-all, and it was also the Russian’s first loss in an indoor tour-level final after going 4-0.

Draper finished with 30 winners to 16 for Khachanov, converted four of eight break points, and outpointed his opponent 68-57. While the champion felt a sigh of relief in winning his second title of the year — and of his career — the runner-up felt upbeat during the trophy ceremony.

“I want to congratulate Jack and his team for this win, you deserved that,” Khachanov said in accepting the Vienna runner-up trophy. “You went for it the whole week. You are rising up this season and I wish you all the success in the future. I’m looking forward to sharing the court again and taking revenge for this loss.

“Once you’re in the final, you’re thinking about winning it. But I can’t complain, the last two weeks have been great. Coming from winning last week and playing the final here in Vienna for the first time, I just want to thank my team.

“I was close to coming back, and that just shows you need to stay there, be positive and fight hard.”

Erler and Miedler complete Antwerp-Vienna doubles sweep

A week after lifting the doubles trophy at the European Open in Antwerp, Belgium, wild cards Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler of Austria won their second straight title and seventh career ATP Tour title as a team with their 4-6, 6-3, 10-1 victory over unseeded Neal Skupski of Great Britain and Michael Venus of New Zealand in an hour and 28 minutes on Center Court Sunday afternoon.

The Austrian duo, who improved to 24-16 this season and 68-50 as a pair in tour-level play, have won eight consecutive matches over their past two tournaments. It was the second time winning the Vienna crown following their 2022 title run.

After saving two match points against No. 3 seeds Harri Heliovaara of Finland and Henry Patten of Great Britain in Saturday’s semifinal, Erler and Miedler saved five of eight break points against Skupski and Venus, converted four of seven break-point opportunities and dominated the match tie-break by jumping out to a 5-0 advantage. They outpointed their opponents 62-58.

Afterward Erler spoke ecstatically about the atmosphere inside sold-out Wiener Stadthalle. “It was amazing, the arena was full,” he said, adding: “I don’t think we’ve ever managed a 10-1 in the match tie-break before.”

Miedler spoke about the difference winning this title versus winning Vienna in 2022. “It feels completely different to two years ago,” he said. “Back then, I couldn’t really enjoy the week; I didn’t sleep well. This time we were almost gone in the first round, then we took it match by match, point by point. But I wouldn’t want to miss either title.”

By the numbers

World No. 18 Jack Draper is the lowest-ranked Vienna champion since No. 25 Lucas Pouille in 2017 with the last six editions featuring a Top 10 winner. He’s also the third different left-handed champion in Vienna this century after Feliciano Lopez in 2004 and Juergen Melzer in 2009-10.

“Quotable …”

“It’s been an incredible week for me. I love Vienna and I’m glad that my hard work has now paid off.

“Thank you for supporting me and the other players so much all week. This was my first time in Vienna, I hope I can come here many more times. Herwig (Straka, Tournament Director) and his team have put together an incredible event. It’s sold out every day and yet it feels so familiar.”

— Erste Bank Open champion Jack Draper, from his trophy ceremony remarks after winning the Vienna title.

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