Jack Draper is having a wonderful season! He won his first title on grass at the Stuttgart Open, then reached his first Grand Slam SF at the US Open and now he’s into his first ATP 500 final in Vienna! Britain’s number one will face Russia’s Karen Khachanov in the final of the Vienna Open on Sunday, October 27. The Russian too has had an outstanding season so far and this is his second final appearance after winning the title at the Almaty Open earlier this month. Now the big question is: Who will win this high-voltage clash?

Jack Draper vs Karen Khachanov: Preview

Draper won a title earlier this season in Stuttgart. After winning his SF match against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in Vienna, the British star claimed, “I suppose it’s my biggest final yet. To be in the final of a 500 after the season I’ve had, I’m incredibly grateful.” His incredible run in the tournament has now ensured him a rise in his singles ranking. Can Jack Draper win his second title of the season by beating the 28-year-old Russian? It’s not going to be easy – that’s certain. 

Karen Khachanov has won two titles this season. The first one came in Qatar and then he recently defeated Canada’s Gabriel Diallo in the final of the Almaty Open. Here in Vienna, he defeated Australia’s Alex de Minaur 6-2,6-4 in the SF. The way he has played in this tournament, we can surely expect this match is going to offer a lot more than expected. 

Draper vs Khachanov: Head-to-Head

Yes, these two players have played against each other three times now with the h2h being 2-1 in Khachanov’s favor. Now, it’ll be interesting to see if Jack Draper brings the h2h on level with a win in this match.

• 2023 Adelaide 2 QF: Draper 6-4,7-6(3).
• 2023 Adelaide 1 R16: Khachanov 6-4,6-2.
• 2022 US Open R32: Khachanov 6-3,4-6,6-5 (retired).

Prediction: Draper to win this match in three sets

There’s a lot at stake in this epic final! We expect this match to go a little deeper. However, as per our analysis, we’re predicting a win for the Brit in this match. Why? Jack Draper has a win-loss index of 35-22. On the other hand, Karen Khachanov (24) has a win-loss record of 33-22. The numbers are quite close, but Jack Draper has the upper hand in both of these. Apart from that, Draper winning their most recent encounter gives us a hint of cracking the code against the Russian.

Now, if we look at their playing styles, Khachanov’s game is mainly based on the first stroke off both the serve and the return. This 6ft 6inches tall lad loves hitting hard and he also has a strong forehand in his armory. His height helps him hit down on the ball whenever he has an opportunity to go for a flat-point ender. Karen Khachanov’s serve is also one of his biggest strengths. So far he has hit 341 aces this season and has committed just 86 double faults. His biggest weak point is his backhand.

On the other hand, Jack Draper is a natural right-hander but he plays with his left hand. He’s known for his powerful baseline game. Draper is often putting his opponents in some real trouble with his fiery serves and stunning volleys. He also has a good backhand. But are these weapons enough to beat an experienced campaigner like Khachanov? Well, these weapons surely have some potential to push the Russian into hot water! Who do you think will win this game?