Jack Draper set for big rankings jump despite missing out on maiden title

James Richardson 11 Nov 2023 5:50 PM

Adrian Mannarino from France and Great Britain's Jack Draper hold their trophies after the final of the 2023 Sofia Open ATP 250 tennis tournament.

Jack Draper has made progress back up the ATP Rankings thanks to his run to the final at the Sofia Open.

Draper will move up 21 places on Monday when the rankings are given their penultimate update of the season.

The 21-year-old will be the world No 61 come Monday after putting up a great fight in losing 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-3 to Adrian Mannarino in Sofia.

Mannarino denied Draper a maiden ATP Tout title, but he was denied becoming the new French No 1 by Ugo Humbert, who cracks the top 20 for the first time thanks to his title run in Metz.

Draper would have risen back into the top 50 if he managed to manufacture victory in Sofia, but it wasn’t to be in the end.

The French veteran was nonetheless delighted to finish his season with a title.

“That’s definitely the best way to finish the year,” Mannarino said. “It’s been a great year and I’m a little bit exhausted but it’s really motivating when you’re doing well. I was playing great on court, and I’m happy with the result.”

Mannarino became the first Frenchman to win three ATP Title wins in a season since Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (4) and Lucas Pouille (3) in 2017 after he also won the tournaments in Newport and Astana earlier this term. This week, he also achieved a personal record of 43 wins for the season.

“That was really close'” Mannarino said of the match. “I got a little bit lucky at the end, It could have gone both ways. I don’t know what made the difference today, but it’s like this. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and I’m just a little bit more lucky today. ”

Humbert won his home event at the Moselle Open on Saturday, securing his first championship since 2021. The Metz boy improved to 4-0 in tour-level singles finals after defeating Alexander Shevchenko 6-3, 6-3 to finish off an incredible week at home.

“It was my dream when I was young to win this tournament,” Humbert said post-match. “It’s just amazing. I have a lot of feelings now, I can’t describe it. It’s so incredible to win here in my hometown in front of my family. To finish strong like this, it’s just an amazing feeling.

“I tried to play my game. I tried to put the pressure on every point,” Humbert said of his attacking approach in his first ever ATP Tour meeting with Shevchenko.

“It was not easy. I knew that the key was to stay really present and I did it. When I had the opportunities, I tried to go for it and I did it. I’m super proud.”

Humbert was delighted that his compatriot had set up a day of double French wins on the ATP Tour.

“So great for French tennis, so good!” Humbert said.

The triumph also sees Humbert finish his season at a career-high of No. 20 in the ATP Rankings and as the year-end French No 1 for the first time.