The round of 16 at the 2024 ATP 500 Vienna pits Italy's Luciano Darderi against Britain's Jack Draper in a mouth-watering match. Both men have lots of promise and play energetic tennis, but neither of them comes into Vienna with good form. Darderi comes into the match after a very strong win over home favorite Dominic Thiem, while Draper sits at 18th in the ATP rankings after seeing off Kei Nishikori in the last round. Both will be keen to build momentum as they look ahead to the closing stages of the season.
Grab Welcome BonusLuciano Darderi
Coming into this match, Luciano Darderi has been very inconsistent over the last few weeks, as shown by his 2-8 mark in his last 10 matches, but the fact that he beat former Grand Slam champion Dominic Thiem gives him cause for optimism. His service game, especially on second serves and holding his break-point opportunities, will be key in this match against a strong opponent in Draper.
For Luciano Darderi, it will all come down to variety and putting Draper on his back foot. While the Italian can deal with high-pressure moments - he saved 80% of break points against Thiem, for instance - he needs to be far more proactive in taking his return opportunities if he wants a potential upset here. The Italian has to avoid giving away rhythm to Draper by making good use of his second serve, where he hits 92% to win.
Jack Draper
By contrast, Jack Draper has been the more consistent of the two players, taking 6 wins from his last 10 matches. Draper's big-serving game, complemented nicely by his aggressive baseline play, makes him a handful on faster courts. His win over Nishikori, which featured 11 aces and an 85% win rate on first-serve points, shows the kind of form that would give Darderi problems if the Brit is in rhythm.
Jack Draper will likely look to rely on the dominance of his first serve to dictate points-the English player took 85% of his first service points in his last match. However, a good deal of vulnerability on second serves-43% win rate in his last match-may present Darderi with opportunities to push on return games. The aggressive baseline play from Draper-and also, crucially, his willingness to gamble on return-should certainly bring him benefit as he attempts to expose Darderi's serve, especially if he can get into the rallies early and push the Italian back.
Expert Betting Tips
For this match, Draper comes in as the favorite, as a result of his superior ranking and recent form. His serve is really powerful, and on the indoor courts of Vienna, where the surface is quick, he is well-equipped to blast past almost all challengers. However, his propensity to struggle when second serve is in, as witnessed in his match against Nishikori, may be all Darderi needs to get a foothold in this match.
The only hope for Darderi is in his ability to extend the rallies, taking Draper out of his comfort zone. Keeping Draper's powerful groundstroke at bay and disrupting the Brit's rhythm with intelligent, varied play might frustrate his higher-ranked opponent and create opportunities to break.
- Jack Draper (-4.5) Games Handicap @ 1.6 Odds
- Under 20.5 Games @ 1.74 Odds
- Jack Draper Wins 2-0 @ 1.40 Odds
Other predictions
