{"id":298998,"date":"2023-11-11T23:56:08","date_gmt":"2023-11-11T23:56:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=298998"},"modified":"2023-11-11T23:56:08","modified_gmt":"2023-11-11T23:56:08","slug":"jack-draper-wants-djokovic-challenge-as-he-sets-lofty-ambitions-after-heartbreak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/tennis\/jack-draper-wants-djokovic-challenge-as-he-sets-lofty-ambitions-after-heartbreak\/","title":{"rendered":"Jack Draper wants Djokovic challenge as he sets lofty ambitions after heartbreak"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Jack Draper is aiming high after suffering heartbreak in his maiden ATP Tour final. The British No 5 lost to Adrian Mannarino at the Sofia Open on Saturday as the experienced Frenchman came through 7-6(6) 2-6 6-3. Despite missing out on his first tour-level title, Draper is now hoping that he can join the likes of Novak Djokovic and Holger Rune by qualifying for next year\u2019s season-ending ATP Finals.<\/p>\n

Draper achieved a major career milestone this week as he reached his first final on the ATP Tour. The 21-year-old already has five Challenger titles to his name but had never been able to reach the championship match on the official tour until now. But the wait for a trophy will have to go on as he narrowly lost out to second seed Mannarino.<\/p>\n

The Brit contested a tight opening set but one single mini-break at 6-6 made the difference and the 35-year-old took it 8-6. Draper stormed back, breaking Mannarino twice in the second set. And he couldn\u2019t convert two break points when the world No 25 was serving for it.<\/p>\n

Still, Draper is more motivated than ever after watching fellow young star Holger Rune reach the Sofia Open final last year. Rune has since gone on to become a top-10 player, has beaten Djokovic twice, and has qualified for this year\u2019s ATP Finals. \u201cHopefully that\u2019s the same for me,\u201d the Brit said of Rune\u2019s rise.<\/p>\n

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The British No 5 is now hoping that he can also make it to the year-end championships in Turin – a tournament where Djokovic has won the title six times, and where he\u2019d have to face the best players of the season. \u201cObviously I\u2019m disappointed I lost in the final but I\u2019ll keep working and hopefully I do well next year and can be in Turin,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Draper is now set to rise 21 places up the rankings to No 62 in the world. He reached a career-high of No 38 at the start of the year before facing several injury setbacks and missing portions of the season. The 21-year-old dropped outside of the world\u2019s top 100 as a result but is already climbing back up and has won nine of his last 10 matches – also picking up a Challenger title in Bergamo last week.<\/p>\n

And Draper believes that his injury layoffs have motivated him to work even harder to get to the top. He continued: \u201cI feel so motivated to want to work so hard every match for every point and compete well. And I think with the time I\u2019ve missed off the court, that really helps me coming on to the court, because I haven\u2019t been able to have the opportunity to play as many events.<\/p>\n