Jack Draper has secured a spot in the semi-finals of the US Open, defeating Australia’s Alex de Minaur in straight sets, 6-3 7-5 6-2.
The British No 1 delivered a dominant performance to book a highly anticipated clash against world No 1 and close friend, Jannik Sinner.
Draper’s victory marks a historic achievement, making him the first British man to reach the US Open semi-finals since Andy Murray’s 2012 title win.
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The 22-year-old Draper has yet to drop a set in this tournament, and his quarter-final victory over the 10th-seeded De Minaur was a commanding display of skill. De Minaur, who had reportedly cut his pre-match practice short, appeared off his game, allowing Draper to capitalise early on.
Two breaks of serve in the opening set put Draper in control, though he needed six set points to finally seal the first set with a cross-court forehand.
Draper encountered a slight hiccup in the second set when a hamstring issue seemed to impede his movement. Despite this, he stayed resilient. After seeing five break points slip by, Draper was broken back by De Minaur, leveling the set at 4-4. However, Draper regrouped and broke again at 6-5 before serving out to take a two-set lead.
The third set saw Draper dominate, wrapping up the match and extending his streak of not losing a set throughout the tournament, reminiscent of Emma Raducanu’s title-winning run in 2021.
For De Minaur, it was another disappointing quarter-final exit, his third consecutive at a Grand Slam, despite his connection to British tennis as the boyfriend of women’s No 1 Katie Boulter. This loss adds to the Australian’s growing list of near-misses at the latter stages of major tournaments.
Draper’s run sets up an intriguing semi-final against Sinner, who secured his place with a hard-fought win over Daniil Medvedev. The Italian, who had previously lost to Medvedev in the Wimbledon quarter-finals, turned the tables with a 6-2 1-6 6-1 6-4 victory, aided by Medvedev’s 57 unforced errors. Sinner, fresh off an Australian Open final win over Medvedev earlier this year, now stands as the favourite for the title.
Draper and Sinner share a strong friendship, having played doubles together in Montreal earlier this year. Draper spoke fondly of Sinner in his press conference, acknowledging the bond they’ve formed through the grind of the professional tennis circuit. Draper noted how valuable it has been to have someone like Sinner to lean on during the challenges of their young careers.
Reflecting on his own journey, Draper called reaching the US Open semi-finals “a dream come true.” He acknowledged his physical condition, remarking that he feels fitter than ever, which helped him withstand De Minaur’s challenge. Draper also credited his opponent for being a tough competitor, despite his struggles during the match.
Tim Henman, providing commentary for Sky Sports, praised Draper’s mental and physical fortitude throughout the match, noting the 22-year-old’s ability to stay focused and push through adversity. Henman highlighted Draper’s authoritative start and his mental resilience in the second set when things threatened to slip out of his control.
Draper’s next test, however, is formidable. Sinner, the world No 1, has been in dominant form and is widely regarded as the favourite to not only win the semi-final but to lift the US Open trophy. Sinner himself is excited about the opportunity, calling it “amazing” to reach his first US Open semi-final.
The highly anticipated Draper-Sinner semi-final is set to be a blockbuster, with both players in top form and plenty of mutual respect between them.
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