The ATP Japan Open is heating up as the quarterfinals approach, with an intriguing matchup between Ugo Humbert and Jack Draper set to take place on Sunday. Both players, though unseeded, have shown impressive form in the tournament so far.
Ugo Humbert, the 19th-ranked Frenchman, has made a strong recovery in Tokyo after a recent slump. Prior to the tournament, Humbert had lost five of his last eight matches. However, he has won both his matches in Tokyo in straight sets, defeating Shintaro Mochizuki and the in-form Brandon Nakashima. Humbert's victories have improved his record to 30-20 for the year and boosted him to 18th in the live rankings.
Jack Draper's Form and Recent Success
Jack Draper, the 20th-ranked Briton, is having a standout year, with 32 wins out of 52 outings. Despite arriving in Tokyo on the back of three successive losses, Draper has turned his form around, winning his matches against Mattia Bellucci and the second seed Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets. Draper's performance against Hurkacz, the world number eight, was particularly impressive, as he lost only eight games in the match. He has reached the quarterfinals four times this season and has won a title in Stuttgart.
This will be the first career meeting between Humbert and Draper, and predictions favor Draper due to his consistent form and strong performance on hard courts. Draper has won seven of his last 10 matches, with 19 of his 32 victories this year coming on hard courts. In contrast, half of Humbert’s last 10 matches have ended in defeat, including seven losses on hard courts.
Prediction and Betting Odds
Given the current form and past performances, the prediction leans towards Jack Draper to win the match. According to betting odds, Draper has a 55.85% chance of winning, with odds of 1.57 at 1xbet, while Humbert has a 44.15% chance with odds of 2.5 at Bet365.
The match is expected to be closely contested, with the possibility of it going to a third set. However, Draper's superior defensive skills and hard-court prowess are likely to give him the edge he needs to secure the win.
