Cincinnati Open: Jack Draper eliminates Stefanos Tsitsipas in three-set thriller | Tennis News

British No. 1 Jack Draper played the final three games to secure a gutsy three-set victory over No. 9 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Cincinnati Open on Thursday.

Tsitsipas served for the match at 5-4 in the third set, but Draper won 12 of the last 17 points to secure a shock 3-6 6-4 7-5 victory and advance to the third round.

“I think Stefanos has a great presence and the court was incredibly fast, so it’s difficult to play good tennis,” Draper said. Vscek.

“In the first hour I really struggled… and that’s not enough against these high-level players.

“Overall, my grit, my determination and my attitude won me the match today, so I’m very proud of that.”

Draper had needed a medical timeout during his first-round win over Jaume Munar, but appeared to move freely during the early exchanges.

Tsitsipas made a decisive break to take a 3-1 lead and, despite a few shot clock violations, the Greek world No. 11 held off a couple of break points for Draper before sealing the opening set.

Draper regrouped for the second set, his serve holding well this time, before forcing a break point in the 10th game following a Tsitsipas double fault that leveled the match.

However, the 22-year-old soon found himself under pressure again, as Tsitsipas had three break points in the opening game of the deciding set, but Draper managed to recover them and gain decisive control.

Tsitsipas appeared to have made a decisive break in the ninth game, only to find himself down 0-40 after another time violation and a double fault brought Draper back to level at 5-5.

Draper, currently ranked 28th in the ATP rankings, held on to put the pressure on Tsitsipas again before converting a superb return to seal another hard-earned victory.

Draper is now 2-0 against Tsitsipas and will face the winner of the seventh seed Casper Ruud OR Felix Auger-Aliassime for a place in the quarter-finals.

Tale of the tape

Alexander Zverev He became the first player to reach 50 tour-level wins this season after defeating Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-2 in his opening victory.

“I felt good on the court,” said Zverev, who lifted the trophy in Cincinnati in 2021. “I felt good in training and then it’s easier to get back on the court. In Canada I didn’t feel good at all, even in the few matches I won. I hope my form will continue to improve and I can play good tennis.

“We are very similar players. We are both very tall and good baseliners and when we both play it’s a question of form and who plays better and today I’m happy that it was me and I got a good win today.”

Elsewhere, Hubert Hurkacz he overcame qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-1, who was given a code violation penalty after punching the crowd as his frustration boiled over during the deciding set.

Number 7 in the world Andrei Rublev defeated Chinese Zhizhen Zhang 6-4 6-3 and qualified to the round of 16 while Rune Holger he won 6-3 7-6 (10-8) against Nuno Borges.

American Ben Shelton He delighted the home crowd as he battled to a 6-7 (8-6) 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 victory over Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Grigor Dimitrov, however, suffered an unexpected defeat against the Hungarian Fabian Marozsanwho fought from behind to win 4-6 6-4 6-3.

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