Jack Draper’s impressive run at the US Open continued as the British player overcame Alex de Minaur to secure a spot in his first Grand Slam semi-final.
The 22-year-old Draper won the match 6-3, 7-5, 6-2, showcasing his skill and determination. He received treatment for a leg issue early in the second set, while Australian 10th seed De Minaur appeared to be struggling with his own injury problems.
Draper, playing his first match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, became the first British man to reach the semi-finals in New York since Andy Murray’s victory in 2012. He will face either world number one Jannik Sinner or 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals on Friday.
“Honestly, to be out here in my first match on the biggest court in the world is a dream come true,” Draper said. “I think he was maybe struggling which may have helped me.”
Draper’s performance has drawn comparisons to Emma Raducanu’s surprise US Open win three years ago. Like Raducanu, Draper reached the semi-finals without dropping a set. However, Draper’s current success follows a year where he has fulfilled his promising potential.
Draper, a Wimbledon junior runner-up, previously took a set off Novak Djokovic at his Grand Slam debut at 19. Despite a challenging year due to injuries, which saw him drop outside the top 100, he has since risen to become the British number one in June and is currently ranked 25th in the world.
In his quarter-final match, Draper initially faced fewer problems, while De Minaur showed signs of a potential injury from the outset. The Australian, appearing in his fourth Slam quarter-final, struggled after a brief practice session earlier in the day.
De Minaur showed signs of discomfort during the match, clutching his hip and receiving on-court treatment. Draper, despite having his upper thigh taped, continued to play effectively. He had multiple break points to advance to a 5-2 lead but failed to convert them initially.
As the match progressed, Draper’s powerful serve and forehand proved decisive, with the final set concluding in just 32 minutes. Draper’s victory makes him the third British man since Andy Murray to reach a Grand Slam semi-final.
Draper now has 48 hours to recover before attempting to advance to the final, a feat that Kyle Edmund at the 2018 Australian Open and Cameron Norrie at Wimbledon in 2022 were unable to achieve.
