By Tony Fairbairn
- Jack Draper def Taylor Fritz [5] 7-6(6) 4-6 6-4
- Draper v Alex De Minaur [9] | H2H: De Minaur leads 3-1
PARIS, FRANCE – Jack Draper edged past Taylor Fritz to extend his winning streak and will now face Alex De Minaur in the third round of Paris-Bercy.
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Jack Draper def Taylor Fritz [5] 7-6(6) 4-6 6-4
Jack Draper is into the third round of Paris-Bercy after a three set win over Taylor Fritz. The Brit’s win over the fifth seed now means Draper has extended his winning streak to seven matches, continuing his red-hot form. Draper’s confidence was evident from the start of the match as he used his power to overcome Fritz’s deep shot-making, breaking in comfortable fashion for a 2-1 lead.
Just like in their previous contests, Fritz aimed to extend the rallies by grinding at the baseline in order to frustrate Draper. The Brit resisted for an extended period of the match, continuing to let his serve dominate the match with five of the next six service games ending in a love hold to the server. Eventually Fritz’s reputation and persistent pressure with the forehand did the damage as Draper committed a few unforced errors, losing serve when serving for the opening set.
At 5-5 the match intensified as both players had big chances to break for the set but ultimately the opening set went to a tiebreak. It was a tiebreak that saw Draper in control for most of it but the Brit let two set points slip to allow Fritz back into the tiebreak at 6-6. Eventually some sensational shots on the run saw Draper claim a tight opening set tiebreak in a set that lasted 57 minutes.
As the match went on, the more brutal the shots became with both players fending off returning pressure to start the second set off confidently. The turning point of the second set would be in the sixth and seventh games as both players started making tactical errors. The British number one aimed to seize the moment as he created six break points with some powerful returns and some dynamic movement on the baseline.
However some big serves saw Fritz save the break points and hold which would prove pivotal as the American broke to love in the next game for a 4-3 lead. That was a big blow for Draper who understandably looked temporarily defeated as Fritz continued to power through his service games with ease. There was nothing Draper could do as this exhausting contest went to a deciding set.
The final set saw both players slightly fatigued as the effects of an incredible last week were evident for Draper. Both players had opportunities throughout the set but on the big points it was the server who triumphed as the tension rose with each game. Being the first player to serve in the set was a big advantage for Draper who continued to serve dominantly as he took a 5-4 lead.
A consistently high level mixed with some poor errors from Fritz saw the British number one convert his first match point and seal another incredible win, moving into the third round in France.
Jack Draper v Alex De Minaur [9] H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Jack Draper v Alex De Minaur [9] | H2H: De Minaur leads 3-1 |
| ATP Paris-Bercy 2024 | Paris, France |
| Indoor Hard | Prize Money: €80,065 |
| Fourth on Court One (Not before 15:00 GMT) | Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required |
Draper will now hope to spoil Alex De Minaur’s bid to qualify for the ATP Finals when the pair meet for a place in the quarter-finals.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2024)
| H2H: | Jack Draper (WR 15) | Alex De Minaur (WR 10) |
| Tournament Previous Best | R2 (2022) | Quarter-Final (2023) |
| 1st Serve % | 58 | 53 |
| Service Games Won % | 84 | 80.2 |
| Break Points Saved % | 60.6 | 60.1 |
| 2nd Serve Return Points Won % | 51 | 57 |
| Break Points Converted % | 44 | 43.9 |
Draper will aim to continue his dominance on serve as he plays one of the more efficient returners on the tour this season.
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Playing Styles and Prediction
De Minaur has had an incredible season and is now within touching distance of a place at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. Despite suffering a really bad injury at Wimbledon, De Minaur has bounced back towards the end of the season and deserves to have a strong and successful end to the season. The Australian would love nothing more than to get US Open revenge and make a big statement of intent at the last Masters 1000 event of the season.
Draper will aim to use the forehand as he will move De Minaur around the court and hope to dictate the match on his own terms. Meanwhile De Minaur will look to remain consistent, extend the rallies and test Draper’s physicality, making this a war of attrition. This match will depend on how much energy Draper has left in the tank but in terms of quality, the British number one will be confident that he can win this match.
Prediction: Draper in three sets.
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