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Jack Draper sails into Sofia Open semi-finals

Jack Draper sails into Sofia Open semi-finals
© Reuters
Jack Draper advances to his third ATP Tour semi-final at the Sofia Open courtesy of a 6-2 6-2 win over Turkish qualifier Cem Ilkel.

Great Britain's Jack Draper strolled into the semi-finals of the Sofia Open with a straightforward win over Turkish qualifier Cem Ilkel in Thursday's quarter-final.

The world number 82 - who overcame top seed Lorenzo Musetti in the second round - took just 75 minutes to seal a 6-2 6-2 win over a man seven years his senior.

Despite squandering two break points in Ilkel's opening service game, Draper made it third time lucky as he raced into a 3-0 advantage over the world number 259, who went 30-0 up on Draper's serve in the third game before the Briton stormed back.

On the 21-year-old's first set point in the eighth game, Ilkel double-faulted at the worst time to cede the opener, and he narrowly secured an opening hold in the second set as Draper wasted two chances for an immediate break.

However, the Turk's resistance proved futile, as Draper won three games on the trot and saw one opportunity for a double break pass him by, but as was the case in the first set, Ilkel could not serve to stay in the match in the eighth game.

In what will be his third ATP Tour semi-final appearance, Draper will take on German third seed Jan-Lennard Struff, who defeated Hungary's Fabian Marozsan 7-6[3] 4-6 6-4 after seeing off British qualifier Billy Harris in round two.

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Written by
Ben Knapton

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Great Britain's Jack Draper pictured at the Davis Cup on September 13, 2023
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