Jack Draper celebrated a significant milestone in his career by capturing the prestigious Vienna Open title, marking it as the biggest victory to date. With this triumph, he joins the ranks of three other British tennis legends.
In the final, Draper faced a determined Karen Khachanov, emerging victorious with a score of 6-4, 7-5. However, the match was far from straightforward; Draper initially seemed to be in control, racing to a 6-4, 4-0 lead. Suddenly, Khachanov turned the tide, winning five consecutive games and putting pressure on Draper, who was just two points away from a deciding set. Nevertheless, the Brit steadied himself, winning the last three games to clinch the title.
“I was playing so good, but then the momentum shifted a little bit,” Draper reflected after the match. He continued, “Honestly, I didn’t feel like I was too nervous or too tight. I just missed a few balls here and there, maybe a couple of wrong decisions. Karen just started swinging, started picking up his level – that’s a testament to how good he is; he’s a fighter.”
Despite the intensity of the match, Draper maintained his composure. “It got really tight there for a minute, but I stayed solid, I played mentally in a good frame, and luckily I was able to come through when it mattered,” he added. Expressing his joy about the event, he said, “I’ve loved being here. Vienna’s an incredible tournament and to win my first ATP 500 here, it feels incredible. I’m incredibly happy.”
With this victory, Draper mirrors his idol Andy Murray, becoming the second player to win the Vienna title on his tournament debut since Murray achieved the feat in 2014. Currently ranked 18th in the ATP standings, Draper will rise to a career-high position of 15th, solidifying his status as the British No. 1 and establishing himself as a player to watch as 2025 approaches.
Draper joins an elite group of British champions at the Vienna Open, with Murray being the most recent winner prior to this year. Murray first triumphed in Vienna a decade ago by defeating David Ferrer in a thrilling three-set match, later claiming the title again in 2016 against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Not to be forgotten, former British No. 1s Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman also left their mark on the tournament’s history. Rusedski won the title in 1999 after losing in the final two years earlier, while Henman captured his fifth career title in Vienna by overcoming Tommy Haas in 2000.
Draper’s victory now places him alongside past champions like Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Andre Agassi, and Pete Sampras, further underscoring the significance of his accomplishment on this grand stage.