Lorenzo Musetti vs Jack Draper Prediction: ATP 500 Vienna Semifinal - A Battle of Rising Stars with Contrasting Styles

This semifinal at the Vienna ATP 500 pits two rising stars against each other in Lorenzo Musetti of Italy and Britain's Jack Draper. The Italian, ranked 17th in the ATP, has made his name known with his high-intensity game and varied skillset, punctuated by a one-handed backhand that has wowed many a crowd. His opponent, Draper, who sits at 18th in the ATP rankings, is a left-handed powerhouse whose athleticism and heavy serve often set the tone in his matches. The semifinal stakes are high in terms of ATP points, and both players badly want to go deep in one of the most prestigious 500 events on the tour.

Draper leads 3-0 over Musetti. Draper defeated Musetti 2-0, ATP Sofia 2023. Their history is on the side of Draper, who has found consistent ways to break Musetti's game with strong and fast points that do not give too much scope for tactical play to Musetti. This H2H advantage might be a factor in boosting the morale of Draper, while Musetti's recent form and added experience make things interesting in this encounter.

Coming into this match, Lorenzo Musetti is fresh from a hard-fought victory against Alexander Zverev, a win which indeed showed his grit and determination under pressure, considering the dicey score of 6-2, 6-7, 4-6. He is also 7-3 in his last ten matches, with three straight victories. Musetti seems to be in good form, and his game is particularly fit for indoor conditions given that it is tactical and very diverse in terms of shots.

The game of Musetti was all about variation in shots, pace, and angles and usually draws his opponents out of their comfort zone. He has a one-handed backhand that has the potential to make sharp angles and high spins that may always keep Draper out of balance. In this match, he can use heavy topspin to nullify the strong strokes of Draper and rely on decent defense to hold off the game of Draper. Watch the way Musetti does his best to move Draper around the court, cross-court angles being a staple as the Italian often will try to exploit any inconsistent footwork by Draper when in defensive position.

Meanwhile, Jack Draper sent packing Tomas Machac 3-6, 6-3, 1-6 in his quarterfinal bout and extended to three his winning run and his recent record to 6-4. A well-known left-handed server and baseline powerhouse, Draper has never failed to get over Musetti, leading the latter 3-0 in head-to-heads, including 2-0 in the last encounter at the ATP Sofia 2023.

He will look to dominate with the serve, trying to keep the points short and dictated from the first shot. His left-handed serve into Musetti's backhand will be an important strategy toward controlling rallies. With power on both wings, particularly with his forehand, Draper can finish points quickly, and it is likely he will be trying not to get into too much longer rallies where the Italian defensive skills could turn things around. Success that Draper has had against Musetti in the past underlines that he knows how to break down the rhythm of Musetti, something critical if he can stay aggressive from the baseline.

This will indeed be a contrast in styles, as Musetti is more about nuance and strategy in his game, whereas the game of Draper is all about power and aggression. Draper leads the rivalry 3-0, and his game has historically unsettled Musetti. But the recent matches of Musetti show the development of confidence in handling aggressive opponents, and that he can force Draper into extended rallies may be key.

The quick indoor court surface in Vienna may favor the power of serve and baseline from Draper, but it would allow him to dominant points right from the outset. However, the great adaptability and flair of Musetti make him an opponent one would rather avoid, especially if he can get Draper into longer rallies and take advantage of any lapses in Draper's defensive play.

• Under 24.5 Games @ 1.6 Odds
• Under 22.5 Games @ 1.79 Odds
• Jack Draper Wins 2-0 @ 2.00 Odds