Draper breaks his duck with Stuttgart title

Jack Draper stunned two-time champion Matteo Berrettini with a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 comeback to win his first career title, defeating the Italian in the final of the Stuttgart Open on Sunday.

The 22-year-old who will assume the British No. 1 position on Monday finally earned a trophy after losing finals last autumn in Sofia and five months ago in Adelaide.

Draper’s victory in just over two hours sends his ranking into the Top 30 – good enough for a Wimbledon seeding. 

He will head straight back to Britain for a Tuesday opening match at the pre-Wimbledon event at Queen’s Club.

The winner who delivered his 12th ace on match point to earn victory, also gets an electric motorcycle along with prize money – as does Berrettini.

“What an amazing final,” Draper said. “I’ve had quite a few injuries – he missed the entire grass season in 2023.

“This sport is brutal, but I’m so happy to win here. But there is really no time to celebrate.”

He added:  “This final was an incredibly tough match, I’m so happy to win my first title, it means so much to me,

“It shows all the hard work and tough moments we’ve overcome in the past year or so. I’m glad with how I played, it’s a testament to all the hard work I’ve been doing.”

Berrettini, titleholder here in 2019 and 2022 with a pair of trophies at Queen’s and the 2021 Wimbledon final, secured the opening set with three straight aces for the early lead.

But Draper struck back, claiming the second set in a tiebreaker and breaking the Italian for 4-3 in the third on his way to victory.

Berrettini will now travel to northern Germany to play as a special exempt at the Halle event where countryman Jannik Sinner, the top seed, will compete for the first time as ATP No. 1.

“This was a close match, this one is gonna hurt for a little bit,” Berrettini said. “But that’s tennis – I’ve won matches like this and I’ve lost matches like this.

“We’ve both had so many ups and downs with injuries (both missed substantial portions of last season while hurt).

“But hopefully this is the first step of my grass season.