World number 18
Jack Draper’s match during the Erste Bank
Open was halted because of a delivery guy. The 22-year-old, who is often
regarded as one of the most talented players currently playing in men’s tennis in
the singles category, is currently taking part in an ATP event in Vienna.
Draper faced Italy’s Luciano Darderi in the round of 16 clash
of the competition on Thursday where he emerged victorious in straight sets
with a score of 7-5, 6-1. That match, however, was interrupted because of a
delivery boy who was wearing a shirt with the title of “Lieferando” which means
Just Eat. The incident took place in the first set of the contest and the broadcasters
ensured to capture a rather unique event.
Draper will now face the winner of the contest between Bulgaria’s
Grigor Dimitrov and Tomas Machac, who will play later on Thursday. It will be
the first-ever meeting between the two. Draper is going through an impressive
season. For the first time in his career, the Sutton-born managed to play in
the semifinal of a Grand Slam.
His journey in the US Open came to an end in the last four
stages, where he lost to current world number one Italy’s Jannik Sinner in
straight sets with a score of 7-5, 7-6, 6-2. Overall, Britain’s tennis star won
33 out of 52 matches this year and suffered just 19 defeats. His most
impressive outing came in an ATP event in Stuttgart in June earlier this year,
where he lifted the title after beating Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the final
with a score of 3-6, 7-6, 6-4. He also played in the final of the Adelaide
International in January, earlier this year, where he lost to the Czech
Republic’s Jiri Lehecka in the final with a score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.