Jack Draper produced a battling performance but was beaten in the Eastbourne semi-finals
(Picture: Getty Images for LTA)Jack Draper’s fell just short in his attempt to reach a first ATP Tour final as American Maxime Cressy beat his third British player of the week at Eastbourne.
There was just one break of serve across the three sets, with world number 60 Cressy edging through the clash with a 7-6 (5) 6-7 (2) 6- win.
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.
Wildcard 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, Draper’s refusal to roll over was rewarded as he forced a decider by levelling the contest following the second of two tie-breakers.
The string of holds then resumed until Cressy made the crucial breakthrough to go 4-2 up in the final set.
Draper smashed his spare ball into the crowd in frustration at his failure to hold and then had further cause for regret as two break points came and went in the very next game.
Cressy, 25, retained sufficient composure to survive a further three break points in what proved to be the final game of a match lasting more than two and a half hours, leaving the dejected Draper to switch focus to his forthcoming first-round Wimbledon meeting with Belgian wildcard Zizou Bergs.
