Draper's Triumph: Britain's Rising Star Reaches Stuttgart Open Final.

Posted 3 months ago

Jack Draper from Britain has reached his third ATP final and his first on grass by defeating unseeded American Brandon Nakashima at the Stuttgart Open.

The 22-year-old sixth seed, who defeated defending champion Frances Tiafoe in the quarter-finals, showcased his skills with 13 aces and 35 winners in a convincing 6-3 6-3 win.

Draper will face former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in Sunday's final.

The 28-year-old Italian secured a swift 6-4 6-0 victory over compatriot Lorenzo Musetti, the fifth seed, in Saturday's second semi-final, taking just 65 minutes to seal his spot in the final.

Facing Draper for the first time, Berrettini mentioned, "We've never even practiced together, so I hope my coach has studied him well. He's been serving brilliantly, so tomorrow's match will be about serving."

Draper, regardless of the final's outcome on Sunday, will climb to 32nd in the world rankings and potentially earn a seeded position for Wimbledon, starting on July 1. He'll also become the new British number one, surpassing Cameron Norrie, and is just one match away from his first elite men's tour singles title.

However, unseeded Berrettini presents a tough challenge. The 2021 Wimbledon runner-up has regained form after injuries, winning two titles in Stuttgart and four overall on grass.