British tennis star Jack Draper made headlines on September 4th by defeating Australia’s Alex de Minaur in straight sets, with scores of 6-3, 7-5, and 6-2, to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career at the U.S. Open.
In a report by Central News Agency citing AFP, Draper is now the first British player to reach the men’s singles semifinals at the U.S. Open since Andy Murray did so 12 years ago.
Currently ranked 25th in the world, Draper is set to face either top-seeded Italian star Jannik Sinner or the 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev from Russia for a chance to compete in the final on September 8th.
Shortly after the second set began, Draper, a left-handed player, requested a medical timeout to tend to his right thigh, which was heavily bandaged. Despite this setback, he secured the victory.
“This feels amazing,” said the 22-year-old Draper. “This is my first time playing at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and it means a lot to me.”
Draper had faced de Minaur three times prior and lost each match. He reflected on his performance, stating, “I played steadily today. I feel like I’m in the best physical shape I’ve been in for a long time.”
He acknowledged de Minaur’s competitive spirit, adding, “Maybe he had some physical issues, but he’s a great fighter.”
Draper’s summer has been remarkable. He clinched his first ATP singles title at the Stuttgart Open and went on to defeat rising Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz at the Queen’s Club Championships before his impressive run at the U.S. Open, where he advanced to the semifinals without dropping a set.
