No. 25 seed Jack Draper swept his way into his first career Grand Slam semifinal by ousting No. 10 Alex de Minaur 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 in the U.S. Open on Wednesday in New York.
Draper hasn’t lost a set in his five U.S. Open matches. The 22-year-old is the first Brit since Andy Murray in 2012 to reach the U.S. Open semis. Murray won the title that year.
Overall, Draper is the fourth different Brit to advance that far in New York. Murray (2008, 2011-12) did it three times and Greg Rusedski (1997) and Tim Henman (2004) are the others.
“I think I played a solid match,” Draper said oncourt at Arthur Ashe Stadium. “I feel the best fitness-wise that I’ve been in a long time, and I think that is where Alex has sort of got me in the past. I also think he was maybe struggling a little bit today with something, which might have helped me a little bit.
“But credit to Alex. He’s an amazing fighter and an unbelievable player. We’re going to have many more battles to come.”
Draper will face either top-seeded Jannik Sinner of Italy or No. 5 seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia in Friday’s semifinals. Those two play their quarterfinal match later Wednesday.
Draper has edges of 40-21 in winners and 11-7 in aces while dispatching de Minaur. Both players committed 30 unforced errors.
But the match remained one-sided throughout as Draper continues his stunning run.
“It’s amazing. To be out here, my first match on the biggest court in the world, honestly, it’s a dream come true for me,” Draper said.
–Field Level Media
