Draper says he’s “really proud” to win on Tour after experiencing “a lot of low moments” [during] The past eight months.”
Looking to build on his victory over 68th-ranked Harris, Draper got off to a solid start on serve, dropping just two points in his first four games.
But crucially, he failed to seize the first two break points in the 11th game, and then Lindeknech seized the opportunity to win the first set in the following game.
Draper was the first to come under pressure in the second set, surviving three break points to level the match at 3-3, but impressively equalized a set and a break down.
The Englishman dropped just one point in his next three service games and would not relinquish control of the tiebreak after winning four of the first five points.
However, Lindeknecht’s breakthrough in the decider proved to be enough to secure a meeting with Russian fifth seed Andrei Rublev in the quarter-finals.
