By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Sunday, June 16, 2024
New British No. 1 Jack Draper rallied past Matteo Berrettini 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 to capture his first career title on the grass of Stuttgart.
Photo credit: Boss Open Facebook
Imposing creative court management, Jack Draper brought his best to beat the Boss in Stuttgart.
Draper battled back from a set down to capture his maiden ATP championship with a 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 triumph over Matteo Berrettini in today's Stuttgart final.
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After dropping two tight losses in his prior ATP finals, Draper was in no mood for consolation prizes today.
The left-handed Draper, who will become the new British No. 1 when the ATP rankings are released tomorrow, played bolder tennis on pivotal points today.
Draper used his lefty slider serve to attack Berrettini's weaker backhand wing and set up his first strike. Draper cracked 12 aces against two double faults and saved three of four break points. Berrettini banged 14 aces against three double faults and saved three of four break points with the Briton's lone break coming midway through the deciding set.
"It's incredible," Draper said."I'm really happy to win my first title, it means so much to me.
"There have been a lot of up and down moments over the last few years but this is a testament to the hard work that I've been putting in."
Two-time champion Berrettini, a Boss ambassador, was bidding to join Rafael Nadal as the second man to capture three Stuttgart crowns. Berrettini broke for a 3-1 lead and quickly backed up the break for 4-1 before closing out the opening set.
The 2021 Wimbledon finalist Berrettini was on track for that rare hat trick of tournament titles when he fired a forehand pass crosscourt to take a 4-3 lead in the tiebreaker.
On the next point, Berrettini was running right when he fired a forehand down the line that narrowly missed the mark.
Showing great guts and soft feel, Draper carved out a beautiful backhand drop shot winner for 5-4. Reading the Berrettini served, Draper drilled a forehand return winner for the mini break and a set point at 6-5.
On set point, Draper again stepped it up executing the perfect serve and drop volley winner to take the second set and force a decider.
New world No. 30 Draper fended off break point holding to level at 3-all in the decider.
Draper broke in the ensuing game then ran off the final 10 consecutive points on serve to seize his first title after a pressure-packed two hours, four minutes in which both men won exactly 91 points.