Jack Draper bids to reach the final four of the US Open as the British No 1 takes on Australia’s Alex de Minaur from approximately 6.30pm on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports.
Draper comfortably brushed aside unseeded Czech player Tomas Machac in straight sets on Monday to reach the quarter-final stage of a Grand Slam for the first time.
Draper’s 6-3 6-1 6-2 victory was underpinned by a streak of 16 games out of 19, but a tougher test now awaits in the form of 10th seed De Minaur, who is through to a third-straight Slam quarter-final – and fourth for his career.
Draper and De Minaur’s meeting is due second on Arthur Ashe during the day session, following on from Beatriz Haddad Maia‘s quarter-final clash with Karolina Muchova.
De Minaur, who defeated another Brit in the third round, Dan Evans, is also hoping to reach the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time, with the winner of his match with Draper set to face first seed Jannik Sinner or 2020 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who conclude the action on Wednesday evening.
Sinner and Medvedev are second on court during the night session at Flushing Meadows, with women’s No 1 Iga Swiatek and American home hopeful Jessica Pegula first facing off from midnight.
Arthur Ashe Stadium
5pm
Beatriz Haddad Maia (Bra) (22) vs Karolina Muchova (Cze)
Jack Draper (Gbr) (25) vs Alex de Minaur (Aus) (10) – from approximately 6.30pm
12am
Iga Swiatek (Pol) (1) vs Jessica Pegula (USA) (6)
Jannik Sinner (Ita) (1) vs Daniil Medvedev (Rus) (5)
Following his impressive fourth-round win over Tomas Machac, Jack Draper revealed to Sky Sports that injuries earlier in his career had left him contemplating retirement.
“I’ve been through a lot the last few years with injuries, and there were times when I was maybe going to stop playing tennis,” he said.
“I remember those moments all the time. Those moments make new experiences easier for me.
“I feel really confident in myself. I’ve learnt a lot about what I’m capable of, and I’ve got amazing people around me to support me and show me the way.”
Draper added: “I feel amazing. Making my first quarter-final means the absolute world to me,” Draper said. “I still feel like I can improve.”
Former British No1 and six-time Grand Slam semi-finalist, Sky Sports’ Tim Henman:
“I love the way that Jack seems to be taking everything in his stride.
“He’ll be very aware and very excited about having this quarter-final opportunity against Alex de Minaur, who is such an experienced campaigner and who has been playing great tennis. But if Jack keeps playing the way he has been, he has a very good chance.
“I think the physicality, how Jack has improved as an athlete, is huge. I think he has the confidence that if the rallies go long, the games go long, the match goes long, that he has the capacity to go toe to toe.
“I’m just massively excited to see not only how he deals with the occasion but the match up against a quality opponent.
“Irrespective of what happens, he is going to be at this stage in many, many more Grand Slams in the future.”
Sky Sports’ Raz Mirza at Flushing Meadows:
As Jack Draper prepares to face 10th seed Alex de Minaur for a spot in the semi-finals on Wednesday, the 22-year-old’s run at the US Open is bringing back memories of Emma Raducanu’s success in 2021.
With Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic already out and only Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner having previously won major titles, the young Brit has played himself into title contention.
Draper has always loved playing at the US Open, where the fast courts help his style, and he will now be dreaming of following in Andy Murray’s footsteps.
Without a doubt, he’s a genuine title contender in New York.
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