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Jack Draper set his sights on qualifying for the ATP Finals next season after narrowly failing to pick up a first tour title at the Sofia Open.<\/p>\n
The 21-year-old was the youngest British player to reach an ATP Tour decider since Andy Murray in 2009 but he was unable to find a way past wily French veteran Adrian Mannarino.<\/p>\n
Mannarino, 35, has been in excellent form and one break in the deciding set proved enough for him to secure a 7-6 (6) 2-6 6-3 victory in the Bulgarian capital.<\/p>\n
But this week has been another reminder that, if fit, Draper can be a force at the top of the game and he believes he could be among the leading eight players in the world in 2024.<\/p>\n
Citing the swift rise of last year\u2019s Sofia runner-up Holger Rune, he told reporters in Bulgaria: \u201cHopefully that\u2019s the same for me. Obviously I\u2019m disappointed I lost in the final but I\u2019ll keep working and hopefully I do well next year and can be in Turin.\u201d<\/p>\n
Draper dropped serve in the opening game but hit back straight away and there was nothing to choose between the pair until the first point against serve at 6-6 in the tie-break.<\/p>\n
The powerful Englishman found the perfect response with a break at the start of the second set and looked to be in the ascendancy going into the third.<\/p>\n
But Mannarino began to apply some consistent pressure to his serve and a break for 4-2 proved the crucial moment, with Draper unable to convert two chances in the final game.<\/p>\n
It has nevertheless been an excellent week for the young Londoner, who was on a nine-match winning streak after lifting a title on the second tier Challenger Tour last week in Bergamo.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there wasn\u2019t much to it to be honest,\u201d said Draper. \u201cIt was a really tight first set. Adrian\u2019s obviously played a lot of matches this year. He\u2019s having a great season. And fair play to him. I guess sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and today wasn\u2019t my day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Draper\u2019s rapid progress has stalled this season because of injury, notably a shoulder problem that caused him to miss Wimbledon, but he believes he used the time away wisely.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel so motivated to want to work so hard every match for every point and compete well,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I think with the time I\u2019ve missed off the court, that really helps me coming on to the court, because I haven\u2019t been able to have the opportunity to play as many events.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just had a long hard look at myself. I felt like there wasn\u2019t much that I\u2019d done wrong. Watching lots of the tennis was really difficult and seeing my ranking drop.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I went straight back to it, worked really hard on my physical state and worked hard mentally to get myself back in a position that, when I was fit, I was able to perform at the highest level again and be better than I was. I\u2019m just proud of the way I\u2019ve come back after such a tough year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Draper is next set to be in action in Great Britain\u2019s Davis Cup quarter-final against Serbia in Malaga later this month, where it would be a big surprise if he was not given the nod as the second singles player.<\/p>\n