New York, Sept 5: Jack Draper has made history by reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open 2024. The 25th seed from Great Britain defeated the 10th seed, Alex de Minaur, with a commanding scoreline of 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 in the quarterfinals. Draper’s performance not only secured him a place in the semifinals but also revived British hopes for a men’s major singles title, a feat last achieved by Andy Murray at Wimbledon in 2016.
This marks the first time a British man has reached the semifinals of the US Open since Murray’s victory in 2012. Draper is also the first Briton to advance to the final four of any Grand Slam since Cameron Norrie did so at Wimbledon in 2022.
Draper’s impressive run at Flushing Meadows had previously seen him win all four of his matches without dropping a set. However, the quarterfinal against de Minaur presented a significant challenge, as the Australian had triumphed in their last three encounters.
Despite the tough competition, Draper managed to overcome de Minaur, who was visibly hindered by a hip injury. Draper completed the match in just over two hours, demonstrating his power and precision on court. He now awaits the winner of the semifinal clash between Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev.
In his on-court interview, Draper reflected on his performance: “I think I played a solid match. I feel the best fitness-wise I’ve been in a long time, which has been a factor in previous matches against Alex. I also think he was struggling a little bit today, which may have worked in my favor. Credit to Alex—he’s an amazing fighter and an incredible player. We’ll have many more battles ahead.”
De Minaur, who had previously withdrawn from a Wimbledon quarterfinal due to a hip issue, struggled throughout the match. He was broken early in the first set and failed to find his rhythm, accumulating numerous unforced errors. Despite a brief period of resistance, where he managed to break back in the second set, Draper quickly regained control and secured a decisive victory.
As Draper prepares for his next match, he remains enthusiastic about the upcoming challenge. “I’m a big sports fan, and I’ll definitely be watching the match tonight if it doesn’t go too late. For now, I’ll enjoy this win and take some time to relax,” Draper said.
The excitement continues at the US Open as Draper gears up for his semifinal showdown, aiming to make even more history at this prestigious tournament.