Jack Draper is poised to accomplish even more “amazing things” after securing a spot in the semi-finals of the US Open.
In the first Grand Slam since Andy Murray concluded his illustrious career, Draper has emerged as the new face of British tennis, capturing the attention of New York.
His 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 victory in the quarter-finals over world number 10 Alex De Minaur makes him the first British man to reach the last four at Flushing Meadows since Murray’s triumphant 2012 title run.
Draper’s remarkable performance has drawn comparisons to another British sensation, Emma Raducanu, who shocked the world by winning the US Open in 2021. Now, Draper is eyeing his own fairytale ending.
“This hasn’t been an overnight thing for me,” Draper said. “I’ve believed for a long time that I’ve been putting in the work, doing the right things, and I knew my time would come.
I just didn’t know exactly when. But from here, I hope to achieve a lot of amazing things. I’m really proud of myself.”
He continued, “It’s incredible. Playing on the biggest court in the world is a dream come true. I’ve got a great team around me, and I don’t feel overwhelmed by the situations I’ve faced. None of this has gotten to me.”
INJURIES
The early stages of Draper’s career were hampered by injury, and concerns arose when he took a medical timeout midway through the second set, having his right hamstring taped.
The 22-year-old admitted he was worried but reassured that the issue did not escalate.
“I felt something on set point in the first set,” Draper explained. “I was a little concerned at the time, but I ended up playing two more sets on it.
One of the improvements I’ve made this year is that I’m mentally stronger. I know I’m playing a lot of tennis and putting my body through a lot, so I’m going to have to deal with minor issues and just push through.”
He added, “It didn’t get any worse, and by the end, I felt fine. I’m just relieved it didn’t turn into a bigger problem.”
Draper’s impressive journey to the semi-finals has seen him win 15 consecutive sets, but his next challenge will likely be his toughest yet.
SINNER NEXT
He will face world number one Jannik Sinner, As for De Minaur, who is dating British number one Katie Boulter, this marks another disappointing Grand Slam quarter-final exit.
The Australian seemed hampered by injury during the match, with reports suggesting he had cut his practice session short beforehand. His movement was clearly affected, but De Minaur downplayed the role of his physical condition.
“I wish I felt better—let’s just leave it at that,” De Minaur said. “It’s tough. This was a big opportunity, a big chance. I wasn’t expecting to feel like this, to be honest.
Everything seemed to be heading in the right direction, but it is what it is. I dealt with it after Wimbledon, and I’ll deal with it after this. I’ll be back soon, hopefully moving around the court with no worries on my mind.”