By Tony Fairbairn
- Jack Draper def Hubert Hurkacz [2] 6-4 6-4
- Draper v Ugo Humbert | H2H: First Meeting
TOKYO, JAPAN – Jack Draper is into the quarter-finals in Tokyo after producing a stunning performance to beat Hubert Hurkacz and now faces Ugo Humbert.
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Jack Draper def Hubert Hurkacz [2] 6-4 6-4
Jack Draper is into his eighth ATP quarter-final of the season after knocking out second seed Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets. The British number one came out of the blocks strong as his aggressive start was rewarded with three break points in the opening game. However Draper was thwarted by some clutch serving from Hurkacz as the Pole held serve.
That opening hold of serve seemed to loosen up Hurkacz, who desperately needed a big win after a turbulent second half to the season, as he produced some stunning net play to create two break points in the fourth game. Some clever serving helped Draper to survive the first test on serve and that was followed up with the first break of the match for the Brit as he drilled shots into Hurkacz at the net to take a 3-2 lead.
Although Hurkacz struggled on serve, Draper remained calm and collected as his first serve was effective and efficient. The world number 20 nailed a forehand winner to secure the opening set in 45 minutes in what was a confident set of tennis.
In the second set, Hurkacz had to face early pressure on his own serve again as Draper took advantage of every short ball he was working with. Although the Pole did well to survive the first test, he couldn’t survive the next one as Draper was ruthless and clinical on return. The Brit played one extra ball and the world number eight couldn’t withstand the pressure any longer with Draper securing the break for 3-2.
A mixture of power and variety saw Draper control the tempo of the match on serve as he was edging closer to his second win in six meetings against Hurkacz. However with the match nearing its conclusion, Draper got passive and allowed Hurkacz to create break point in the eighth game.
The British number one fended off a late resurgence from Hurkacz as he saved break point and closed out the victory with a backhand cross-court winner to ensure his progress into the quarter-finals.
Jack Draper v Ugo Humbert H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Jack Draper v Ugo Humbert | H2H: First Meeting |
| ATP Tokyo 2024 | Tokyo, Japan |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $49,820 |
| Second on Colosseum (07:00 BST) | Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required |
Draper will now face Ugo Humbert for the first time in his career as a place in the Tokyo semi-finals is up for grabs.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2024)
| H2H: | Jack Draper (WR 20) | Ugo Humbert (WR 18) |
| Tournament Previous Best | R1 (2023) | N/A |
| 1st Serve % | 57.9 | 64.3 |
| Service Games Won % | 84.3 | 85.4 |
| Break Points Saved % | 60.6 | 66.9 |
| 2nd Serve Return Points Won % | 51.2 | 50.9 |
| Break Points Converted % | 43.8 | 38.3 |
Draper will aim to be consistent on return as he will look to neutralize the effective serving of Humbert.
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Playing Styles and Prediction
Humbert has failed to take advantage of his impressive performance at Wimbledon as this is the first tournament since then that the Frenchman has won back-to-back matches at a tournament. Now the world number 18 will aim to continue his efficient serving as he looks to reach his fourth semi-final of the season.
Draper will continue to be aggressive on serve as he will use the forehand to move Humbert from side-to-side. Meanwhile Humbert will use the serve to neutralize Draper’s efficient returning. This will be a competitive match with Draper’s recent form putting him as slight favourite with both players knowing that this is a massive opportunity to build momentum heading into next year.
Prediction: Draper in three sets.
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