New British No 1 Jack Draper has been making waves at the ATP Stuttgart Open, after a remarkable victory against defending champion Frances Tiafoe. In a thrilling match, Draper showed his resilience by coming from a set down to secure a 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-1) win over Tiafoe. The intense encounter lasted two hours and 13 minutes, and Draper’s exceptional performance included sending down a career-high 31 aces and winning an impressive 85 per cent of points on his first serve.
As a result of this stunning victory, Draper has soared to 33rd in the live ATP rankings, and he is set to become the new British No 1 on Monday, surpassing Cameron Norrie. This significant achievement comes after a series of strong performances from the talented 22-year-old, who is now gearing up for a semi-final showdown with American Brandon Nakashima.
Draper’s success extends beyond this tournament, as he has notably reached the semi-finals of the ATP Tour for the sixth time. With his eyes set on a third final appearance, Draper is determined to build on his runner-up finishes in the 2023 Sofia Open and the 2024 Adelaide International. Expressing his elation after the quarter-final victory, Draper stated, “I’m incredibly happy. My last three (deciding) tie-breaks, I lost them all, so to come through today was really amazing and I’m really proud of my efforts. I’m really happy with the way I served and the way I played. It was a really high-quality match.”
As the competition unfolds, all eyes will be on Draper as he continues his pursuit of further success at the Stuttgart Open. With his soaring ranking and impressive form, he has firmly established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the world of tennis.
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