Deep in the second set of his Vienna Open final against Karen Khachanov on Sunday, the complexion of the contest had dramatically changed. For more than an hour, Draper was flawless, winners streaming from his racket as he methodically compiled a 6-4, 4-0 lead. But then he hit a wall. Five games later, Khachanov, tenacious as ever, stood two points from forcing a final set.
Down 4-5, 15-30, Draper landed a sliding lefty first serve out wide before forcing himself inside the baseline and ending an ultra-attacking point with a sweet angled crosscourt backhand winner. He then closed out one of the most significant service games of his career with more first serves and more relentless aggression, wrestling the contest back in his favour and winning his first ATP 500 title.
Throughout his stellar week in Vienna, Draper was fearless under pressure in the important moments, a stark contrast to the start of the season when so many of his matches ended with 7-6 or 7-5 final-set losses.
"That's confidence, playing lots of matches, maybe understanding what I must do in those moments a bit more and not panic," he says before his Paris Masters campaign begins today.
This story is from the October 29, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the October 29, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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