Jack Draper has all the time liked taking part in on the US Open, the place the quick courts assist his fashion, and he’ll now be dreaming of following in Andy Murray’s footsteps. Definitely, he is a real title contender in New York.
That is arguably Draper’s greatest likelihood but of profitable a Grand Slam. With Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic already out and solely Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner having beforehand received main titles, the younger Brit has performed himself into title rivalry.
He must overcome a lot larger obstacles than the one unseeded Czech participant Tomas Machac introduced on Louis Armstrong Stadium as Draper swept to a 6-3 6-1 6-2 victory, underpinned by a run of 16 video games out of 19.
However no matter occurs subsequent, he has already written his identify within the historical past books by changing into the primary British man to achieve the final eight right here since Andy Murray in 2016. Deliver on Alex de Minaur within the quarter-finals!
The 22-year-old, who was supported all through by Vogue editor Anna Wintour, appeared in Tatler final yr earlier than lately showing in Vogue, displaying he has attraction to a wider market.
His dishevelled fuchsia pink shirt may not be successful with spectators, however Draper is creating his personal fashion, dominating his opponents together with his harmful lefty serve, booming backhand, and highly effective groundstrokes.
He reached the fourth spherical at Flushing Meadows final season and has impressed as soon as once more this yr, not dropping a set and shedding simply 26 video games by means of his first 4 matches.
“I think I’m doing good things behind the serve,” Draper stated. “I think I’m finding first serves when I need to find them. I’ve saved a lot of break points with good serves and good plays.
“I feel I nonetheless have gotten a variety of work to go on my function nicely. I feel my serve is a weapon.
“Whenever I look at the stats, I think I see that my first serve when it goes in is a really high percentage, but I still feel like I’m serving not amazingly well.
“So it is actually constructive to know that I am holding serve so much, and I nonetheless really feel like there’s room for enchancment.”
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Draper has learnt what he’s able to and says he feels wonderful after reaching his first Grand Slam quarter-final
His opponent Machac believes Draper has what it takes to turn into a prime 10 participant.
“I think he has more experience now and he’s been working on his mental side of the game,” stated the 23-year-old. “He showed that he was well prepared for me.”
Who makes up Draper’s staff?
James Trotman (proper) has been Draper’s coach since 2021, resuming sole accountability once more final month following Wayne Ferreira’s departure after a four-month stint within the staff
Draper labored alongside Justin Sherring at Weybridge Tennis Academy from 2006 till 2016.
The following key particular person in Draper’s tennis improvement was Ryan Jones who performed an instrumental function as his coach from 2017-2021.
Now Draper has physio Will Herbert, health coach Steve Kotze, and coach James Trotman in his nook, he says he has “amazing people” round him.
“Everyone wants the best for me and everyone wants to do their job for me, and that’s hard to find in a professional sport because there are a lot of people out there for themselves,” stated the younger Brit.
Draper’s rise and magical summer time
Draper has been touted as one of many brightest prospects in British tennis for some time now, together with his huge breakthrough coming in 2022 after spectacular runs at Eastbourne, the Canadian Open and US Open.
The next yr was a bodily battle for the lefty, who missed six months of the season resulting from a number of shoulder accidents.
“I had to learn a lot about myself and I dropped outside the Top 100,” stated Draper. “Had to grind myself back. I feel like I’m just a lot stronger mentally and I have a lot more perspective of being in a good position.”
The five-time ATP Challenger Tour titlist clinched his maiden ATP Tour title in Stuttgart earlier this yr, defeating Matteo Berrettini within the remaining, to turn into the brand new British No 1 for the primary time in his profession in June.
He adopted that up by beating Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s, earlier than this breakout run at Flushing Meadows.
“I’ve been through a lot the last few years with injuries,” stated Draper. “There were times when I was going to stop playing tennis and I remember those moments all the time and those moments make new experiences for me all the time. I feel like I’ve learnt what I’m capable of.”
Altering of the guard for British tennis?
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Draper stated he misses having Andy Murray round, together with his pungent garments!
Draper was thrilled to turn into the primary British man to achieve the US Open quarter-finals since his good friend and mentor Andy Murray in 2016.
Murray, who received the title right here in 2012 for the primary of his three Grand Slam titles, retired after the Paris Olympics and whereas Draper stated the 37-year-old is all the time only a textual content away, he didn’t plan on reaching out to him for the time being.
“Probably not,” he stated. “Obviously I feel like he would completely understand and respond to any messages I send him and would give me advice, but I think also at the same time I think he’s kind of enjoying his retirement now and he’s kind of done with it.”
Draper beat Murray of their solely ATP Tour stage assembly at Indian Wells final yr in a match that felt on the time like a altering of the guard for British tennis.
“Andy I obviously miss,” Draper stated in an on-court interview. “Shout out to him. What an unbelievable career the guy has had. Icon of the game. I miss him in the changing rooms. I miss being next to his stinky shoes and all of his stinky clothes,” he stated.
“Andy is a legend. If I have half the career that he’s had, then I’ll be a happy man.”
Tennis panel on how far Draper can go…
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Tim Henman offers his breakdown of Draper’s spectacular victory towards Machac
“We know the challenges will get harder and harder but you can only beat the opposition in front of you,” Tim Henman stated on Sky Sports activities Tennis.
“Looking at the stats the scary thing is for Draper, he can play better. His first serve percentage could be in the 60s.”
Laura Robson, who reached the fourth spherical at Flushing Meadows in 2012, added: “Tomas Machac is no joke off the baseline but Jack Draper took the tennis out of his hands.
“He was the one to open up the strains, so as to add the facility, to go for extra even when it meant a number of extra unforced errors in that first set. The main target from Draper was wonderful to see.”
Sky Sports activities’ Dan Khan & Raz Mirza
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Feliciano Lopez questions whether or not or not it is a bonus being a left-handed tennis participant
Dan Khan: “The fact Draper has been able to keep his matches short and sweet seems to be a good sign as he goes deeper into the tournament but now he is raising eyebrows, it will be so interesting to see how he handles the pressure of Wednesday’s quarter-final.
“We noticed maybe a number of nerves when he took centre stage at Wimbledon in the summertime however there’s a calmness and coolness about Draper proper now.
“Could he be the first Englishman to reach the semi-finals here at the US Open since 2004?”
Raz Mirza: “Draper is improving with each match, and with every win we’re beginning to believe in another fairy-tale in New York.
“De Minaur, who will little doubt be supported by his British girlfriend Katie Boulter in his field, has been troubled by a hip harm heading to New York and holds a 3-0 report over Draper too, so do not count on a straightforward experience.
“Draper came into this Slam as a dark horse, but now he’s played himself into a contender for the title. He packs an arsenal of weapons to take on the very best in world tennis. At 22, he can join the best of British.”
What’s developing on Sky Sports activities Tennis in September?
- Jasmin Open, Tunisia – WTA 250 (9-15 September)
- Guadalajara Open, Mexico – WTA 500 (9-15 September)
- Korea Open – WTA 500 (16 -22 September – with Emma Raducanu in motion)
- Thailand Open – WTA 250 (16 -22 September)
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and will likely be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities prospects entry to over 50 per cent extra dwell sport this yr at no further value. Discover out extra right here.
