British No 1, fresh from success in Vienna, faces Jiri Lehecka on Tuesday knowing he can challenge the world’s best
Deep in the second set of his Vienna Open final against Karen Khachanov, the complexion of the contest had dramatically changed. For more than an hour, Draper had been flawless, winners streaming from his racket as he methodically compiled a 6-4, 4-0 lead. But then he hit a wall. Five games later, Khachanov, tenacious as ever, stood two points from forcing a final set.
Down 4-5, 15-30 in set two, Draper landed a sliding lefty first serve out wide before forcing himself inside the baseline and eventually ending an ultra-attacking point with a sweet angled crosscourt backhand winner. He then closed out one of the most significant service games of his career so far with more first serves and more relentless aggression, wrestling the momentum back in his favour and eventually winning his first ATP 500 title.