British tennis athlete Jack Draper has advanced to his inaugural Grand Slam semi-final following a straight-sets victory over Australian Alex de Minaur at the US Open.
He overcame the number 10 seed with a score of 6-3, 7-5, 6-2, showcasing a commanding display, and will now contend with either the top seed Jannik Sinner or 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals.
Draper becomes just the fourth male British player in the Open era to reach the semi-finals in Flushing Meadows, as the 22-year-old has yet to lose a set in this year’s competition.
Australia’s Alex de Minaur in his quarter-final loss to Jack Draper. Pic: Reuters
After his quarter-final victory, the 25th seed expressed: “It’s incredible. Truly, to play my first match on the largest court globally is a dream realized for me.
“It means everything.”
The British men’s top player elaborated: “I feel I played a robust match. I am in the best physical condition I have been in a very long time, which I think is where Alex previously outperformed me.
“I also sensed he might have been struggling a bit today, which perhaps aided my performance slightly.
“However, hats off to Alex; he is a remarkable competitor and an extraordinary player, and there will be many more encounters ahead.”
Draper is the first British male to reach the last four in the US Open since Andy Murray triumphed in 2012.
“It means everything,” Draper stated following his straight-set win. Pic: Reuters
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For de Minaur, whose partner is British women’s number one Katie Boulter, it marks yet another quarter-final exit at a Grand Slam, and he appeared to be affected by an injury.
This is the third consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final that de Minaur has been eliminated from.
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In the meantime, Draper has firmly established himself as the rising star of British tennis, stepping into the limelight as Murray announced his retirement from the sport this summer.
