Jack Draper, Britain’s top tennis player, put on an impressive performance to overcome Matteo Berrettini and secure a spot in the semi-finals of the Qatar Open. Despite losing the first set to Berrettini, who once made it to the Wimbledon finals, Draper managed to turn things around. Known as the world number 16, Draper has been battling through some injury issues lately, a fact widely recognized in the tennis community. However, he showcased his resilience and skill, clinching a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win against the Italian competitor.
Reflecting on the match, Draper expressed to Sky Sports, “In the second set, I felt like I was so close to seizing opportunities, but I just had to stay strong and keep pushing.” He described the match as a hard-fought challenge against a remarkable opponent. “In Australia, reaching the fourth round without any off-season prep was a big deal for me,” he added. He emphasized the effort he and his coach invested in improving fitness, which seems to be paying off. “I’m thrilled to have reached a better level this week, gaining match experience and rebuilding my confidence,” Draper shared.
Next, Draper is set to face Jiri Lehecka, who caused an upset by defeating the top seed, Carlos Alcaraz, with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory. This marked only the second loss of the year for Alcaraz, Spain’s four-time Grand Slam champion. His other defeat came in the Australian Open quarter-finals against Novak Djokovic.
In another thrilling quarter-final, Andrey Rublev of Russia emerged victorious over Australia’s second seed, Alex de Minaur, in a nail-biting match with scores of 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8). This win sets Rublev up for a semi-final clash with Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, who automatically progressed after Daniil Medvedev retired due to illness, granting Auger-Aliassime a walkover victory.
