Jack Draper’s impressive performance at the US Open has certainly turned heads, as the 22-year-old British No 1 secured his spot in the semi-finals by defeating 10th seed Alex de Minaur without dropping a single set. This marked Draper’s first Grand Slam quarter-final, and he certainly made it count with a commanding 6-3 7-5 6-2 victory.
Notably, Draper’s achievement carries historical weight, as he becomes the first British man to reach the final four at Flushing Meadows since Andy Murray clinched the tournament in 2012. The young talent’s upcoming challenge in the semi-finals will pit him against either world No 1 Jannik Sinner or the 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, with their quarter-final match set to unfold on Wednesday night (early hours of Thursday morning in the UK).
From the onset, Draper displayed a commanding presence on the court, capitalizing on an off-colour performance from De Minaur, who reportedly curtailed his pre-match practice session. Draper’s strategic play rewarded him with two breaks of serve, allowing him to claim the opening set after narrowly missing out on five set points. Despite briefly grappling with a hamstring issue in the second set, Draper overcame the setback and ultimately secured a crucial break at 6-5 before taking the set. The British hopeful’s dominance carried into the third set, culminating in a straight-sets win and maintaining his flawless record of not dropping a set throughout the entire tournament.
Furthermore, Draper’s remarkable run draws striking parallels to fellow Brit Emma Raducanu’s triumphant 2021 journey to the title without conceding a set. Similarly, Draper has displayed unwavering consistency, winning 15 consecutive sets en route to the semi-finals. Conversely, for De Minaur, this defeat marks his third consecutive quarter-final loss at a Grand Slam and the fourth of his career, adding a bittersweet tinge to his journey, especially with his girlfriend being the British women’s No 1, Katie Boulter.
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