Jack Draper finally had his breakout season in 2024, taking his game to new heights on the ATP Tour.
Draper won his first title at the Stuttgart Open, defeating Matteo Berrettini in the final to hoist the trophy in Germany.
The Briton also earned the biggest victory of his career by ranking last year, overcoming Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s, ending the Spaniard’s streak of 13 wins on grass.
His impressive 2024 campaign peaked at the US Open, however, having not dropped a set en route to the semifinals at Flushing Meadows, where he met Jannik Sinner.
Eventual champion Sinner ultimately won in straight sets, continuing his red-hot form on hard courts.
Following the loss, Draper reflected on his performance and said how far away he was from his conqueror’s level.
Jack Draper’s reaction to losing to Jannik Sinner at the US Open in 2024
He said in his press conference: “I mean, I think firstly Jannik obviously has had, even though he’s so young, he’s obviously been in these situations many, many times.
“You know, I think, to be fair, you know, before the Australian Open this year, he kept on getting to the quarterfinals, the semifinals, and came unstuck.
“It’s all a process. You know, you have to go through the losses and the emotions of being there and not quite getting it done. You know, maybe it was too much for him at certain times.
“As players, we’re constantly being put in situations that sometimes are new to us, so we have to learn how to deal with it. I think someone asked me what did people say? Well, you have to experience that yourself to understand it better, and to know how you react to that situation.
“I think, yeah, I think Jannik’s got huge experience already. And also, yeah, I mean, the reason why he’s No. 1 in the world and, you know, he’s barely losing matches is because he’s so consistent.
“His intensity, his ball speed, he’s barely got any weaknesses, and he’s just able to be there point by point and raise his level when he needs to.
“Mentally, physically, emotionally, everything’s constantly improving, and he’s rock solid in all areas. He’s tough to beat.”
Jack Draper now has what it takes to go all the way at the US Open
The main difference between Draper and Sinner in their US Open clash was experience, which the British number one now has a lot more of.
He has played 38 matches in 2025, winning 29 of them, while adding a maiden Masters 1000 title to his collection at Indian Wells.
Jack Draper’s final appearances in 2025:
- Qatar Open – Runner Up
- Indian Wells Open – Champion
- Madrid Open – Runner Up
Though his results at Grand Slams haven’t been the best, Draper is now the world number five and has come on leaps and bounds since last year.
Heading into the US Open in late August, he’ll be among the favourites to challenge Sinner and Alcaraz, and will be even more determined to do well in New York after his disappointing Wimbledon run.
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