Britain's Jack Draper falls short in ATP Tour's Sofia Open final

Experienced trumped youth as 35-year-old Adrian Mannarino was too good for rising star Jack Draper in the Sofia Open final in Bulgaria on Saturday.

The 21-year-old Draper was the youngest British player to reach an ATP Tour decider since Andy Murray in 2009 but he was unable to find a way past the wily French veteran.

Mannarino has been in excellent form and one break in the deciding set proved enough for him to secure a 7-6(6) 2-6 6-3 victory in the Bulgarian capital.

Draper dropped serve in the opening game but hit back straight away and there was nothing to choose between them until the first point against serve at 6-6 in the tie-break.

The powerful Englishman found the perfect response with a break at the start of the second set and looked to be in the ascendancy going into the third.

But Mannarino began to apply some consistent pressure to his serve and a break for 4-2 proved the crucial moment, with Draper unable to convert two chances in the final game.

"That's definitely the best way to finish the year," said Mannarino post-match. 

"It's been a great year and I'm a little bit exhausted but it's really motivating when you're doing well. I was playing great on court and I'm happy with the result."

"That was really close. I got a little bit lucky at the end, It could have gone both ways. I don't know what made the difference today, but it's like this. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and I'm just a little bit more lucky today."

It has nevertheless been an excellent week for the young Draper, who was on a nine-match winning streak after lifting a title on the second-tier Challenger Tour last week in Bergamo.

Draper is next set to be in action in Great Britain's Davis Cup quarter-final against Serbia in Malaga later this month, where it would be a big surprise if he was not given the nod as second singles player.

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