Five points all in a second-set tie-break is a precarious position to be in if you’ve lost the first set.
If you’re receiving serve, the safer strategy is to block the return, play your way into the point and look for your opportunity – or hope for an error from your opponent. Or, if you’re Jack Draper you just step in and attack the second serve and take your chance.
Having revealed that he was perhaps too defensive in the past, Draper spoke yesterday about how his game had developed. And the proof is now there for all to see, as he took out the two-time former champion Matteo Berrettini in three tight sets to win is first ATP Tour title at the Boss Stuttgart Open, winning 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 in just over two hours.
“[It’s an] amazing feeling, something I’ve been working for a long time,” said Draper. “Third time lucky. I lost the other two in three sets. Means the world to me to win against such a player in such a place. It didn’t go so well on clay, a few close defeats against good players. I’ve had good training now, it was very professional. All the hard work has paid off now.”
And the turning point in this match may well have been that return in the tie-break with the scores level at five each and Draper just two points away from a straight sets defeat. Instead, the 22-year-old Brit trusted himself to take advantage of a tiny opening and snatched the set to level the contest, taking the first meeting between the two into a decider.
Along with the €111,785 winner’s cheque comes the all-important 250 ranking points, meaning he is now projected to rise to 32 in the men’s charts – and therefore gaining a crucial Wimbledon seeding. “That was my goal at the start of the year,” said Draper “I think I should have achieved that now. That’s so important in these big competitions because you don’t get an absolute top player at the start.”
Berrettini started the match aggressively and broke early to go 3-1 ahead in the first set with strong baseline play and regularly wrong-footing Draper. The Italian has won four grass court titles in his career and also reached the Wimbledon final in 2019. Everything was going to plan, or so it seemed, as he closed out set without facing a breakpoint, hitting seven aces and twelve winners in the process.
But then something changed right at the start of the second set. Berrettini was 40-30 up when serving at 0-1 and then followed arguably the rally of the match where both players pushed each other side to side showing off a full array of strokes and movement. But when Draper won the 19-shot rally, he started to believe:
“I played with a lot of courage today. Top players like Matteo don’t give you anything, especially with his service. There’s a reason why he has such a great career. I was sloppy in the first set and he punished me for that. I then changed that. Then I also believed in my game.”
Even though games went with serve thereon, Draper missed a set point when 5-4 up when he netted a return, but also managed to save a breakpoint in the next game. And it was in the tie-break where he excelled and displayed his inner confidence by winning the first point with a well-placed drop shot.
“I stayed positive throughout the match,” said Draper. “Not all the balls went in my favour and then I was lucky again. You can’t give a single ball away against players like that. I’m happy with the way I was mentally today. That was certainly one of the reasons why I won. I’ll remember this title for the rest of my life.”
The third set went with serve until Draper made his move in the all-important seventh game after a close line call at 30-30 and broke Berrettini’s serve for the first time in the match. Thereafter Draper remarkably served out two love games to win his first tour title on his third attempt, falling to his knees with a mixture of delight and relief.
In his post-match press conference Draper, who is playing the Queens grass court event in London this week, said he would be unable to watch England’s first game in the Euro 2024 competition as he would be flying home at the same time.
“I think I’ll fly home tonight, go to the Queens Hotel and prepare for next week. My body feels great, I feel confident, I’ll get some rest, then get used to the courts and play on Tuesday. Take every day as it comes. I don’t think I’ll see much of today’s match. I think England will win 2-0, it won’t be the last match.”
