Jack Draper will play in his biggest final at the ATP Vienna Open. But in-form Karen Khachanov will be the slight favorite after winning two championship matches this year, including his most recent one at the Almaty Open. Who will leave Austria’s capital with the title?
ATP Vienna Final Prediction
Karen Khachanov vs Jack Draper
Head-to-head: Draper 2-1 Khachanov
It’s back-to-back finals for Karen Khachanov, and it almost feels reminiscent of his stellar 2018 season when he finished the year with a maiden Masters title in Paris-Bercy. Khachanov has been on a tear this autumn. He won the ATP 250 in Almaty this past week and has only dropped a set in his run to the final in Vienna.
Jack Draper, for his part, overcame a fleeting moment of dizziness just before he served for the match in the semifinals against Lorenzo Musetti. The British No.1 got the job done very routinely, winning 6-1 6-4. Like Khachanov, Draper has dropped one set during the tournament, which came in his quarterfinal victory against Tomas Machac.
It’s a clash between two heavy hitters, and both of them have been crashing every ball in their line of vision this week. On paper, Khachanov had a slightly more testing route to the final, needing to beat Matteo Berrettini and Turin aspirant Alex de Minaur. But Draper deserves immense credit for showing consistency not just in his level of play but also in his fitness. He is gradually becoming a durable player, although question marks remain following his late medical timeout in the semifinal. Ultimately, this match will come down to the player who holds their nerve in the decisive moments. For me, Khachanov just shades it with his refined serve and far more depth and placement.
Prediction: Khachanov in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
