Jack Draper is through to the last four of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna after beating Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 – and he is closing in on a landmark rankings breakthrough.

The British No 1, benefitting from a month’s break before the tournament, produced a dominant final-set performance to set up a last-four clash with Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti after he beat top seed Alexander Zverev.

Draper, up to 18 in the world rankings after the best year of his career, responded to losing the second set by breaking Machac twice in the decider.

The 22-year-old Briton, who lost in straight sets to world number one Jannik Sinner in the US Open semi-finals last month, opened up a 4-0 lead before wrapping up his win in two hours and seven minutes.

He was broken once, decisively, in the second set as Machac hit back to level the match, but the Czech world number 27 had no answer to his left-handed opponent’s power in the last set.

Draper beat Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Italy’s Luciano Darderi in the previous rounds without dropping a set and served out his match against with Machac with an ace.

Now he is up to a career-high of No 17 in the live ATP Rankings, with a push for the top ten possible if he can go all the way in Vienna and then have a good run of form at the Paris Masters event that gets underway next week.

“The first set was obviously really physical – it is always tough playing Tomas, he is so solid off the ground,” said Draper.

“I felt I had chances in the second set. To be honest, it was more of a mental battle.

“I felt like my energy dropped a little bit, my decision-making became a little bit up and down. I knew I had to reset. At this level you can’t get away with spending too long in that situation.

“I am really proud of the way I dug in. I didn’t feel my best but I competed hard and did a great job to come through.

“I am improving all the time, working really hard to become a better player, more consistent.

“I am really happy with my level. I know I still have lots of improvements to make but I am really happy with where I am at right now and I will keep on working hard.”

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Meanwhile, British No 1 Katie Boulter eased into the semi-finals of the Pan Pacific Open by comfortably dispatching Bianca Andreescu in Tokyo.

The 28-year-old registered a third consecutive straight-sets win at the tournament, progressing 6-2 6-1 in just over an hour.

Ninth seed Boulter will take on American world No 26 Sofia Kenin for a place in the final.

“I felt like I played really well today,” Boulter said. “I came out here with nothing to lose, honestly. I had a quick turnaround yesterday.

“I just wanted to come out and enjoy it and I felt like I came out and everything was kind of clicking. Apart from the first service game everything was really good and I felt like I played a really good match.

“The last couple of months I felt like I was very close, but I just wasn’t quite there.

“Credit to me and my team, we keep pushing and we’ve worked really hard through the Asian swing. It’s starting to pay off. I feel like it’s it suits me out here.

“It’s the end of the year and I’ve got nothing to lose. I’m swinging out here, having a smile on my face and I’m just proud of myself and my team for continuing to push me all the way through until the end of the season.

“That’s something I haven’t been able to do before, because of my body, so I’m very proud and I’m very happy to be here in the semi-finals.”

Boulter is up to No 30 in the live WTA Rankings and will reach a career-high if she makes further progress in Tokyo.

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