An injury-hampered Alex de Minaur faltered in the US Open quarter-final to the blistering pace and precision of Britain’s Jack Draper.
It’s long been expected for Jack Draper to reach the lofty heights of Andy Murray, despite him only being 22.
With little bother however, the Brit has done exactly that, continuing his glorious US Open run by convincingly outhitting an under the weather Alex de Minaur.
On top from the get-go, Draper broke the Australian’s serve immediately, with his focus and his composure carrying him over the finish line 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.
A maiden major semi-final and still yet to drop a set, Draper’s run feels slightly nostalgic of Emma Raducanu’s faultless dance to the 2021 US Open title.
The Brit faces Jannik Sinner next after the Italian’s topsy-turvy win over last year’s finalist Daniil Medvedev.
Alex de Minaur provides concerning injury update after US Open defeat
Draper was leading the 10th seed by a set and a break when the trainer came down to provide treatment to his thigh.
Confused commentators initially suspected De Minaur was the one expecting treatment, especially after having cut his practice session short on Wednesday.
Olympic heartbreak for De Minaur following a hip injury sustained at Wimbledon seems to be a knock yet to be completely healed. Despite this the Australian was keen to first praise the level of his opponent.
“Look, Jack is never easy to play in the best of times. The way he can spread the court being a lefty and really move you around the court, it takes its toll on the body,” he explained.
“An accumulation of matches takes its toll as well. He played well, he deserved the win, he moved me around the court and served great and in the few chances I had I wasn’t able to execute.”
Despite rightly highlighting the superb display Draper produced, the world number 10 was pushed to explain how his body was feeling, especially with the Davis Cup approaching.
“Sure. I wish I felt better, let’s put it that way,” he admitted. “It’s tough. It’s a big opportunity and chance. I would rather try and think about what I was doing six or seven weeks ago and where I am now and try and focus on that rather than dwell on what just happened, rather than focus on me having one of the bigger opportunities in my career and it just slipping away from my hands.”
On the Davis Cup, De Minaur added: “I really don’t know. I was not expecting today, if I’m honest. Everything was trending in the right direction and now I don’t know. That’s the honest answer. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see over the next couple of days how it pulls up.”
With Australia having been beaten by a dynamic Italian team led by Sinner in 2023, the prospect of not having De Minaur in the squad feels perilous.
Draper even addressed his wounded opponent via his Instagram story on Thursday, saying “Huge respect to Alex de Minaur… You clearly weren’t at 100 percent yesterday and haven’t played since Wimbledon, yet you’re still competing like an animal.
“Looking forward to more battles ahead. Rest up.”
Alex de Minaur is still having the best season of his career
With his movement clearly compromised, Australia’s last hope produced a litany of forehand errors to shut the door on a maiden Grand Slam semi-final.
Still however, De Minaur has produced a truly tantalizing 2024 season so far, starting the year with a triumphant victory over Novak Djokovic.
After later beating Alexander Zverev, he became the first Australian to enter the world’s top 10 since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006, with a career-high of world number six reached in July.
A successful title defense in Acapulco, Mexico this year where he beat clay-specialist Casper Ruud in the final was yet another milestone for the Australian.
The injuries have rocked De Minaur and with this latest agonizing inability to produce his best tennis, one can only hope he rediscovers his best soon.
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