Jack Draper set for new career-high ranking after reaching another ATP final

British No 1 Jack Draper reached his third ATP final of the year with a straight-sets victory over Lorenzo Musetti at the Erste Bank Open – and he is closing in on a new career-high ranking.

The 22-year-old, playing in his second tournament since reaching the US Open semi-finals, triumphed 6-2 6-4 against the Italian world number 17 in Vienna.

But the scoreline did not tell the story of a gruelling encounter taking an hour and 48 minutes.

Having broken Musetti’s serve in the opening game, Draper recovered from being broken back to reel off four games in a row and take the first set.

Musetti, a Wimbledon semi-finalist this year, dropped serve again early in the second.

Draper, who had won their previous two matches, came through two taxing service games but Musetti’s pressure told when he levelled at 4-4.

However, the momentum swung dramatically back in Draper’s favour thanks to a wretched service game from Musetti.

A clearly exhausted Draper took a medical time-out at 5-4 but came back out to wrap up victory and reach his first final at ATP 500 level.

“I thought the first set was really high level from my side,” said Draper.

“Lorenzo is a really tough competitor and the second set was up and down, some nerves and some difficult moments. Luckily in the end I got it done.”

Draper is the fourth British player to reach the final in Vienna after Greg Rusedski, Tim Henman and two-time winner Andy Murray.

“I suppose it’s my biggest final yet,” he added. “To be in the final of a 500 after the season I’ve had, I’m incredibly grateful.”

Draper is now up to No 15 in the live ATP Rankings and is guaranteed a new career-high ranking on Monday.

He has made it clear that a place in the top ten is his target and if he backs up his impressive form in Vienna with some big wins at nxt week’s Paris Masters, that could be a possibility sooner rather than later.

More Tennis News

Jannik Sinner handed nightmare Paris Masters draw as Carlos Alcaraz gets lucky

Jack Draper opens up in his first major interview since his US Open heroics

Speaking at a Eurosport event, the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion suggested a huge improvement in Draper’s movement on court has allowed him to move to the next level, as he suggested the Brit is now a threat against anyone in the men’s game.

“Jack has had some hard luck with injuries and he had some issues with his fitness stepping up into the big time,” began McEnroe.

“With Andy Murray retiring, he had to step up into that role in British tennis and that is not easy at all.

“He has benefitted from a favourable draw at this year’s US Open, but I feel like he is playing the game with a little more abandon now and that is helping him.

“He is using his height to his advantage and to me, he still has a tendency to stand too far back as he has a big game and needs to use it.

“Being a lefty helps as players don’t see that too often, so he has a lot going for him.

“I knew he was going to be good and one area where he has impressed me at the US Open is with his movement. That makes me think he could become a regular in the top ten of the rankings from now on.

“He has already gained quite a bit at this US Open and he has nothing to lose at this point. He just needs to push on from here.”

After an early exit at this year’s Australian Open, Draper will have a chance to break into the top 10 of the ATP Rankings at the opening Grand Slam tournament of 2025 if he has a good run at Melbourne in January.

Read Next: Jack Draper: Inside story on the US Open hero who is finally realising his potential