Grigor Dimitrov’s hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin suffered a major setback as he crashed out of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.
There were a couple of moments of frustration, but I think he really brought out the best of my tennis today and I’m really happy with the way my level was so consistent today
Jack Draper
The Bulgarian, who is in 10th place in the Race table for the 8-man field, lost 6-7(5) 6-4 6-3 to Tomas Machac in what was an absorbing second round match lasting two hours and 29-minutes.
“It was a great match and I am really happy that I could play against him, because I was watching him a lot on the TV when I was young,” the 24-year-old Machac said.
“I am really happy with my performance and I think that both players [played well].”
The Czech now faces Britain’s Jack Draper who reached the last eight with an excellent performance to oust Luciano Darderi 7-5 6-1 on just 76-minutes.
Jack Draper making a welcome return following injury
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Draper, the seventh seed, was particularly strong on serve throughout the match, highlighted by the four successive aces he delivered in the 12th game to close out the first set.
The 22-year-old Brit broke serve again in the first game of the second set and Darderi, who had beaten Dominic Thiem in the last match of the former US Open champion’s career on Tuesday, could not find a way back into the contest.
“There were a couple of moments of frustration, but I think he really brought out the best of my tennis today and I’m really happy with the way my level was so consistent today,” Draper said after his win.
Draper, who retired during his quarter-final against Ugo Humbert in Tokyo last month due to an abdominal injury, added in his Sky Sport interview: “I didn’t know what to expect coming out after being injured and I was ill for a week as well, so I was potentially going to be a bit rusty and my body wasn’t going to be feeling too good.
“But I felt like the last two matches I’ve been really strong and my movement, my confidence in everything I’m doing elevated today.
“Really happy with that and hopefully I can continue moving forward this week.”
In other action, the top two seeds, Alexander Zverev and Alex de Minaur, have reached their allotted quarter finals place, the German beating Marcos Giron comfortably 6-2 7-5 whilst the Ausie had a battle on his hands before Flavio Cobolli retired injured with the score standing at 7-6(2) 3-1 in favour of the second seed.
Matteo Berrettini also had a battle on his hands but he showed true grit as he downed the fifth seed Frances Tiafoe 6-3 6-7(6) 6-3 and will now face Karen Khachanov who had an equally tough and enthralling encounter to defeat Brandon Nakashima 1-6 6-3 6-4.
Lorenzo Musetti received a walkover from Gael Monfils and will require all his guile if he is to make a mark on Zverev’s game when playing for a place in the semi-finals.
