Jack Draper has continued his dazzling run at the US Open by surging into the quarter-finals without dropping a set.
Draper’s new-found aggressive approach has paid dividends at Flushing Meadows this year as he has made light work of the four unseeded threats he has faced so far.
After defeating world number 39 Tomas Machac in the last-16, the 22-year-old became the first British men’s singles player to reach the quarters since Andy Murray did in 2016.
The top half of the US Open draw was blown wide open last week when Carlos Alcaraz was sent packing in the third round, and Draper took full advantage.
The Brit has already soared to new heights in 2024 by claiming his maiden ATP title, but he is now guaranteed a new career-high ranking of at least number 23, regardless of the outcome of his quarter-final match.
Having been given the opportunity to avoid a seeded player until this point, Draper will have his work cut out when he faces world number 10 Alex de Minaur, who has prior experience at this stage of a grand slam.
Jack Draper feels as if there is room for improvement despite remarkable US Open run
Jack Draper has expressed his admiration for the courts in New York after firing himself into his maiden grand slam quarter-final.
A major part of his success thus far is owed to his trusty lefty serve which remains intact after his four prior opponents were unable to break him.
Draper, however, has acknowledged that there is still work to be done if he is to compete against the top stars who remain lingering in the last-eight, of which the Brit is the lowest-ranked player.
“I think I still have a lot of work to go on my serve, Draper said. “I think my serve is a weapon. Whenever I look at the stats I see my first serve when it goes in is a really high percentage [of points won].
“But I still feel like I am serving not amazingly well. I am not sure what my first serve percentage was today but I don’t think it would have been that high. It’s really positive that I am holding serve a lot but I still feel like there is room for improvement.”
Draper’s run is inspiring, but hardest part yet is to come
It is refreshing to hear Draper maintain a steady footing and not get too carried away with what he has achieved thus far at Flushing Meadows.
He is, after all, the lowest-ranked, and least-experienced, player remaining in the draw.
Australian de Minaur awaits in the quarters and, though he has come close, Draper has failed to prevail in their three previous meetings.
The winner will face the victor of a blockbuster rematch of this year’s Australian Open final between world number one Jannik Sinner and 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev.
Draper is clearly in unchartered territory, but this is proving to be a career-changing run for the young Brit and there is no reason why it must end here.
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