Jack Draper Powers into First Grand Slam Semi-Final at US Open

Britain’s rising tennis star Jack Draper has surged into his first Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open after a dominant victory over Australia’s 10th seed Alex de Minaur. Draper, 22, continues his impressive form at Flushing Meadows, defeating de Minaur 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 without dropping a set in the tournament so far.

Draper's clinical performance saw him control the match from start to finish, demonstrating a growing maturity and consistency that has propelled him into the sport's elite. Despite the win, the 25th seed believes there is more to come as he prepares for an even tougher challenge in the semi-finals, where he will face either world number one Jannik Sinner or 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev on Friday.

"This is not an overnight thing for me," Draper said after his triumph. "I felt like my level today was solid, there were glimpses of really good stuff. I still have some levels to go if I get pushed."

The win marks a historic moment for British tennis, as Draper becomes the first Briton to reach the semi-finals of the men’s singles at the US Open since Andy Murray’s title-winning run in 2012. Draper’s rise has long been anticipated, having reached the Wimbledon juniors final and taken a set off Novak Djokovic at his Grand Slam debut in 2021. However, injury setbacks in 2023 slowed his progress.

Reflecting on his journey, Draper said, "Last year was a real turning point for me. When I had my injury setbacks, I had to watch all of these young, amazing players winning tournaments and playing on the biggest stages. I felt like I wasn’t doing enough to get there myself. But I’ve believed for a long time that I’ve been putting in the work and doing the right things, and I knew my time would come."

Draper’s performance in New York has now positioned him as one of the top young talents on the global stage, showcasing his potential to follow in the footsteps of British tennis greats like Murray. With his physical condition improving and his game evolving, Draper looks set to continue making waves as he enters the most significant match of his career so far.

As the semi-final approaches, Draper remains focused and optimistic, aware of the challenges ahead but confident in his ability to rise to the occasion. "I’m ready for whatever comes next," he added. "I’ve worked hard for this, and I feel like I’ve still got more to give."

With the US Open reaching its climax, all eyes are now on Jack Draper as he takes another step towards potentially joining the ranks of British Grand Slam champions.