Tennis

Jack Draper's remarkable journey reached new heights in Vienna on Saturday as he secured a spot in his first ATP 500 final and projected a rise to the Top 15 in the ATP rankings.The 21-year-old Brit displayed exceptional form, defeating world No. 17 Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets (6-2, 6-4) in a thrilling semifinal clash. Draper's victory marks a significant milestone in his career, as it is his first final appearance at an ATP 500 event.Despite a brief setback in the second set, where Musetti rallied to tie the score at 4-4, Draper regained his composure and secured two quick games to seal the victory. This triumph extends Draper's ATP final record to 1-2, with his previous victory coming on grass in Stuttgart earlier this year.Draper's impressive performance has propelled him to a projected career-high ranking of No. 15, regardless of the outcome of the Vienna final. This achievement is a testament to his consistent performances and rapid rise in the tennis world.Standing in Draper's way for the ATP 500 title is former world No. 8 Karen Khachanov, who defeated world No. 10 Alex de Minaur in the other semifinal. Khachanov, known for his powerful serve and aggressive baseline play, will pose a formidable challenge for Draper.The Vienna final promises to be an exciting encounter between two talented players. Draper will aim to continue his winning streak and secure his first ATP 500 title, while Khachanov will seek to add to his impressive record of seven titles in nine finals.

Lorenzo Musetti, the 22-year-old Italian sensation, pulled off a stunning upset on Friday, defeating world number three Alexander Zverev in the Vienna Open quarterfinals. Musetti's 2-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 victory marked a significant milestone in his career and sent shockwaves through the tennis world.Musetti, who won an Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo and reached the Wimbledon semifinals earlier this year, struggled initially against Zverev's powerful serve and aggressive baseline play. However, he remained composed and gradually found his rhythm, exploiting Zverev's unforced errors and dictating the pace with his precise groundstrokes."It didn't start how we planned," Musetti admitted. "I was struggling to find the right balance with my forehand and the variation of my backhand."But Musetti's resilience shone through as he fought back from a set down to force a tiebreak in the second set. He then seized control of the match, breaking Zverev's serve in the third set and holding on for a memorable victory."It's a pretty big win because Sascha really loves to play here, on this court, in these conditions," Musetti said. "But, after the first round, I was feeling in good shape and today I showed that."Musetti's triumph sets up a semifinal clash with world number 18 Jack Draper, who defeated Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic in three sets. Draper, who is enjoying a breakout season, will pose a formidable challenge for Musetti, but the Italian is confident in his abilities."I thought the first set was really physical," Draper said. "It's always tough playing Tomas, he's so solid off the ground."In other quarterfinal action, Australian second seed Alex de Minaur rallied from a set down to defeat Czech teenager Jakub Mensik. De Minaur will face Karen Khachanov of Russia in the semifinals, who cruised past Italy's Matteo Berrettini in straight sets.The Vienna Open semifinals promise to deliver thrilling tennis as the top players battle for a place in the final. Musetti's upset victory over Zverev has injected excitement into the tournament and has further cemented his status as one of the rising stars of the sport.

Dominic Thiem, the 2020 US Open champion, is reportedly set to retire from professional tennis at the Vienna Open in late October. The Austrian outlet SN claims that Thiem has informed sponsors of his decision.Thiem's career has been marked by both triumph and adversity. He has won 17 tour-level trophies, including the US Open in 2020. However, a right wrist injury in 2021 derailed his progress, and he has struggled to regain his former form.Despite his recent struggles, Thiem remains a respected figure in the tennis world. Novak Djokovic, who defeated Thiem in the 2020 Australian Open final, praised Thiem's character and determination."He's a great guy, very good person, someone that has very good manners, good values, family man, somebody that always took time to say hello, always showed respect on the court, off the court," Djokovic said. "I really like Dominic."Thiem's retirement will mark the end of an era in Austrian tennis. He is one of the country's most successful players, and his absence will be felt on the ATP Tour.