Draper defeats Berrettini to win first ATP Tour title in Stuttgart

Jack Draper is an ATP Tour champion.

The British lefty overcame Italian Matteo Berrettini 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 on Sunday to win the BOSS OPEN title.

"It's incredible. Just thank you so much for the support," Draper said. "It was a really, really tough match. But I'm really happy to win my first title. It means so much to me."

An unforgettable week for @jackdraper0 ✨@boss__open | #BOSSOPEN pic.twitter.com/AqYqujh6HN

Draper, who was competing in his third tour-level final, battled hard against Berrettini in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. The sixth was two points from defeat in the second-set tie-break, but rallied to level the match and then won 89 per cent (17/19) of his first-serve points in the third set according to Infosys ATP Stats to triumph at the ATP 250 grass-court event in Stuttgart.

Draper climbed 10 spots to No. 30 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. The 22-year-old will rise to a career-high on Monday, when he will become the new British No. 1.

Last season, Draper did not compete on grass at all due to a shoulder injury. The lefty dropped outside of the world's Top 100 in August, falling as low as No. 123.

But that appears long behind him now. The 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF competitor is back to being a dangerous opponent for anyone across the net.

"I think [it is] just a lot of hard work. A lot of tough moments the last year or so," Draper said. "It's been up and down, but I'm really, really glad with the way I played and I think it's a testament to the work I've been doing."

Berrettini was competing in his first tournament since Monte-Carlo and trying to claim his third Stuttgart crown.

"Congrats to Jack. Unbelievable week. Unbelievable match. I was so close," Berrettini said. "This one is going to hurt for a little bit, but that's tennis. I've won matches like this, I've lost matches like this. I'm sure this guy is going to lift more trophies."

[NEWSLETTER FORM]