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via Reuters

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via Reuters

The ATP Sofia Open continues along with the ATP Moselle Open as one of the last tournaments of the year. Both ATP 250 tournaments precede the ATP Finals and showcase the skills of players who are further down the ATP ranking ladder. The semifinal of the Sofia Open will set up a bout between Jack Draper and Jan-Lennard Struff.

The Sofia Open is held in Sofia, Bulgaria. Like many tournaments in the ATP 250 series, it features talents looking to move up the ladder or players on hiatus looking to make their way back to the top. Now, we have the semifinalists with us.

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Jack Draper vs. Jan-Lennard Struff: Preview

Jack Draper came into the tournament after winning the Challenger in Bergamo. Draper is a 21-year-old British player who is currently on a roll. The youngster did not have a great start to the year and had to sit out for the grass season due to injury. But coming into the Sofia Open, he has great momentum after his Bergamo win.

Additionally, he defeated top seed Lorenzo Musetti in the second round. He hasn’t dropped a set so far and is looking to win his first ATP 250 title. 

 

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Jan-Lennard Struff, on the other hand, has been struggling in the last few months. He has had a great moment this year as he reached his first Masters final in Monte-Carlo. He was also able to play until the Stuttgart Open. But end-season fatigue seems to be plaguing him, as he has not managed to go past round two of any tournament. He has been ousted from round 1 of four tournaments with a break in the Swiss Indoors. 

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But he has turned his game around somewhat, stepping into Sofia. He won his first bout with some difficulty and had to go all out to win his second-round bout.

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Draper vs. Struff: Head-to-Head

Draper and Struff have never played against each other on the ATP Tour. Both players will have their first match against each other in Bulgaria and learn each other’s strategy for the future. The audience in Bulgaria will also focus on watching the two players clash for the first time in their careers, as two players at different stages of their careers battle it out. 

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Prediction: Draper to take the win and play in the final

Both players have had a great run in the capital of Bulgaria. But the Briton youngster has shown much better performances in the recent past. Struff has been left scrambling for consistency, while Draper has been busy improving his game. Their clash will be a match to watch, and the 21-year-old can take the lead on their head-to-head stats.

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