Jack Draper falls short of first ATP final after last-four defeat at Eastbourne

Jack Draper’s dreams of a maiden ATP Tour final were extinguished following an agonising three-set loss to Maxime Cressy at the Rothesay International in Eastbourne.

In a tense encounter containing just a single a break of serve, world number 60 Cressy continued his conquering of the British players to edge through 7-6 (5) 6-7 (2) 6-3.

The France-born American, who defeated Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans in the previous rounds, will face either 2019 winner Taylor Fritz or reigning champion Alex De Minaur in Saturday’s final.

Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova will play defending champion Jelena Ostapenko in the final of the women’s draw following their respective straight-set wins over Beatriz Haddad Maia and Camila Giorgi earlier on Friday.

Tournament debutant Draper was playing in his first semi-final at this level and bidding to become the first British male to reach the singles final at Devonshire Park.

Backed by a partisan crowd in the afternoon sunshine, the 20-year-old acquitted himself well against an aggressive opponent with a deadly serve and an equally potent volley.

The pair traded blows at an unrelenting pace, albeit the towering Cressy was holding with slightly more ease.

Wild card Draper, sporting strapping on his left ankle, repeatedly dazzled with a series of fine winners to the delight of the spectators on Centre Court.

Yet the world number 108 was forced to save four break points in the opening set – three in succession having fallen 40-0 down in the sixth game – and faced 10 overall, while it took until the 10th game of the second to gain one of his own – a set point, which went begging.

After Cressy received on-court treatment for an apparent muscular issue at 5-4 behind in the second set,