Jack Draper celebrated becoming the new British No. 1 on Sunday with his first ATP Tour title, culminating in a strange awards ceremony with an e-motorbike as the prize and an awkward speech from a Hugo Boss executive dressed as a white-suited Bond villain.
The 22-year-old left-hander came from behind to win 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 against a former Wimbledon finalist in Italy’s Matteo Berrettini at the Boss Open in Stuttgart. It was a testament to his progress, having previously been advised by Andy Murray not to ‘rush’ his way into becoming a winner.
While this tournament in Germany was sponsored by Hugo Boss, the fashion giant’s CEO, Daniel Grieder, made a speech after Draper’s stylish win, which was confirmed with an ace and earned him a check worth £94,636.
During that speech, Grieder said the prize of a Novus One e-bike was for Berrettini – a poster boy for Hugo Boss – as he told spectators: ‘Unfortunately this bike is for the winner. I covered it in the wrong colors, Matteo. It was actually for you. So we have to make a second bicycle in Jack’s colors.’
Draper posed for photos on the e-bike alongside TikToker Khaby Lame and later said at his post-match press conference: ‘It looked too expensive to ride, to be honest. I’m not sure what it would look like driving around Putney in one of these. But I’ll have to try it someday.’
Jack Draper won his first ATP Tour title on Sunday after beating Matteo Berrettini at the Stuttgart Open
The awards ceremony was bizarre and involved Draper sitting on an e-motorcycle next to TikTok star Khaby Lame (right)
Two-time winner Berrettini took the first set against the young Brit before breaking away in the final in Stuttgart
When asked what color he will order it in, Draper replied: “I’m ordering it all in black, just like Batman.”
Draper became the new British No.1 earlier this week, taking over from Cameron Norrie after his surprise defeat in Nottingham, and it was a very impressive performance from the Sutton-born left-hander.
He admitted that most spectators in Stuttgart might have expected Berrettini to triumph, while adding that the e-bike was intended for his fellow finalist: “They have confidence in their player, you know? He’s an incredible player, so good on the grass, one final at Wimbledon, two-time Queen’s winner, two-time winner here – it was probably inevitable that he would win. I’m sure they are disappointed, just like Matteo, but it feels good to persevere.’
The nonsense of the ceremony aside, this was an important win for Draper, the biggest of his career after losing his previous two ATP finals – at the Sofia Open in November 2023 and at the Adelaide International in January.
“It’s so important,” Draper said. ‘I’ve been doing the right things for a long time. The results haven’t necessarily shown that. But I worked so hard behind the scenes.
‘It means everything to me. The power of belief, especially in tennis, is enormous. This win will give me a huge boost of confidence and hopefully I can keep going. I’ve always wanted to be a top player in the world. Hopefully I can be (British) No. 1 for many years to come.”
Draper will immediately fly to London to compete at Queen’s this week before heading to Wimbledon as the new British No.1.