After a thrilling US Open sits on the cusp of its conclusion, Martina Navratilova has claimed ‘the sky is the limit’ for one ATP player.
An uncertain, tantalising two weeks in New York has seen upsets galore, umpire mishaps and a boatload of American success.
With two American players in each final, and four in the semi-finals, Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula have been the two to lead the flag the furthest.
While Pegula was muscled out by world number two Aryna Sabalenka, she leapfrogged last year’s champion and compatriot Coco Gauff into third and becomes the new American number one.
A semi-finalist for the time in her career, Emma Navarro will slot into eighth come the end of the tournament.
With a few unlikely faces forcing their way into the latter stages, Martina Navratilova, a four-time winner herself, has been speculating on who might be able to carry this form forward.
Martina Navratilova tips Jack Draper for Grand Slam success in 2025
After Jack Draper renewed British hopes within a month of Andy Murray’s teary Olympic departure, the world was stunned to see the 22-year-old make the last four.
Having never reached beyond the fourth round of a major, a run he achieved 12 months ago in New York, Draper eventually lost in a gruelling straight sets to Jannik Sinner.
Impressed by his level, despite Draper physically struggling through the semi-final with some stomach troubles, Navratilova has been absolute in her judgment of the up and coming Brit.
“Next year, if he stays healthy, Jack will be in the conversation in every major. That’s a really big plus,” she told Sky Sports. “If he keeps playing like this the sky is the limit.”
Having beaten Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s in June weeks after picking up his maiden ATP title in Stuttgart, Draper’s yucky end to his US Open run still leaves the door ajar for a big 2025.
“It was rough he couldn’t compete at his top physical level, because of everything going on in his stomach and his brain. But he still kept it together, and he was in there. Jack gave it absolutely his all, and then some.
“He looks so calm when he’s playing. He’s been unbelievably calm. Talking to us, he’s so relaxed. The anxiety, he’s got to let that out somehow, as it’s maybe eating him up and getting to him. Something has to give here, but we don’t see it when he’s playing. He internalises it that much.”
How will Jack Draper’s ATP ranking change after the US Open?
Having notched a career-high ranking of 25 just before the US Open started, Draper moves inside the top 20 for the first time in his career.
The British number one sits 32 spots up from his closest countryman with Cam Norrie perched two outside the top 50.
While Draper’s US Open campaign was helped by the early exit of Carlos Alcaraz, with the pair expected to meet in round three, he has still produced some thrilling tennis.
His booming lefty serve and heavy groundstrokes saw him not lose a set until the semi-final.
With Alcaraz surely set to return to his best in 2025, Draper will need to keep this momentum going to 2025 when the Australian Open and the tennis year starts back up all over again.
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