On a humid Friday afternoon at the U.S. Open, Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper both received treatment from trainers during the second set of their semifinal match. Sinner had his left wrist massaged following a fall during a winning point, while Draper required medical attention after vomiting twice.
Sinner, ranked No. 1 and a 23-year-old from Italy, outperformed Draper to secure a 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory, advancing to his first U.S. Open final and his second Grand Slam final this year.
“It was a very physical match, as we see,” Sinner remarked. He is a right-handed player who uses both fists for his backhands and continued to flex his injured left wrist. “I just tried to stay there mentally.”
During a changeover, a vacuum was used to clean the court where Draper had vomited, creating an unusual scene reminiscent of Pete Sampras’s 1996 U.S. Open match against Alex Corretja, where Sampras also vomited. The temperature was in the high 70s with humidity above 60% at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Sinner, who won the Australian Open in January, will compete for his second major title on Sunday against either No. 12 Taylor Fritz or No. 20 Frances Tiafoe.
“Whoever it is,” Sinner said, “it’s going to be a very tough challenge for me. But I’m just looking forward to it.”
Sinner had previously failed two drug tests in March but was cleared after claiming that trace amounts of an anabolic steroid entered his system unintentionally through a massage from a now-dismissed team member. This incident has been a recurring topic throughout the tournament.
Fritz and Tiafoe were scheduled to face off in the other men’s semifinal, marking the first time in 19 years that two Americans will compete in the semifinals in New York. The winner will become the first U.S. man in a Grand Slam final since Andy Roddick lost to Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2009, and could provide the U.S. its first major men’s trophy since Roddick’s 2003 U.S. Open win.
The women’s final will also feature an American, with No. 6 Jessica Pegula set to play No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.
As the match between Sinner and Draper extended past three hours, Sinner’s ball-striking prowess became increasingly evident. Draper, who had not dropped a set in the two weeks leading up to the semifinal, struggled with physical issues exacerbated by the weather and the pressure of his Grand Slam debut. Sinner capitalized on these issues, winning 50 of 80 points that lasted nine or more strokes.
Draper, who tried to stay hydrated with a growing number of empty water bottles and even requested a can of soda in the third set, was ultimately unable to slow Sinner, who improved his hard court record to 34-2 for the year.
