Jack Draper delivered a gutsy comeback to defeat Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 and book his place in the Qatar Open semi-finals. The British number one showed resilience against the former Wimbledon finalist, turning the match around after dropping the first set.
Berrettini started strong, but Draper, currently ranked world number 16, found his rhythm and took control in the final two sets. Despite moments of frustration, he stayed composed and sealed an impressive victory.
Reflecting on his win, Draper told Sky Sports:
“I felt in the second set I was knocking on the door but not quite taking my chances. I stayed strong because it was such a tough battle against a great player. In Australia, I was proud to reach the fourth round despite not having a proper off-season. Now, I’ve been working hard with my coach and on my fitness, and it’s great to see my level improving.”
Next up, Draper will face Jiri Lehecka in the semi-finals, after the Czech player stunned top seed Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 3-6, 6-4—handing Alcaraz just his second loss of the year.
In the other semi-final matchup, Andrey Rublev will take on Felix Auger-Aliassime. Rublev edged out Alex de Minaur in a thrilling 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8) battle, while Auger-Aliassime advanced after Daniil Medvedev withdrew due to illness.
With Draper in red-hot form, all eyes will be on him as he pushes for his first ATP 500 title in Doha.
