Draper delights with breakthrough Open semi-final

Jack Draper destroyed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 on Wednesday to make a stunning debut on the Ashe showcourt, booking a first-ever spot in the US Open semi-finals.

The 22-year-old is the fifth British man to reach the final four of a major, following in the footsteps of Andy Murray, Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski and Roger Taylor.

Draper got this far at Flushing Meadows by winning all 15 of the sets he has played.

His quarter-final demolition of Aussie No. 1 de Minaur took barely two hours, with the winner sending down 11 aces and breaking six times from 20 chances.

Draper said he will be watching as world No. 1 Jannik Sinner plays 2021 New York winner Daniil Medvedev later with the winner to be his next opponent,

 Draper broke twice per set as he controlled an opponent who had to miss the Olympics due to a hip injury at Wimbledon which meant a quarter-final walkover he handed to Novak Djokoic.

The Brit was briefly treated in the  second set for an upper leg problem which certainly did not slow his march to victory after losing his first three meetings with de Minaur.

“It’s amazing, to be here on the biggest court in the world is just a dream come true for me,” Draper said.

“I played a solid match, I’m feeling the most fit I have in a long time.

“Alex was struggling with something, maybe that helped me a little bit also. But I’m sure we will have many more battles to come.”

The breakthrough success from the next British tennis generation came a month after Murray retired at the Paris Olympics with three Grand Slam titles and 2015 No. 1 status.