Draper emulates Raducanu as he reaches US Open semi-finals with stunning win

Jack Draper has reached his first Grand Slam semi-final with a stunning straight sets win over tenth seed Alex De Minaur at the US Open.

The Briton, whose previous best performance at a Major was the fourth round, dispatched the Australian 6-3 7-5 6-2 on what was his debut appearance on the Arthur Ashe Court.

“It’s amazing. To be out here on my first match in the biggest court in the world, it’s a dream come true for me,” Draper said.

“Thanks for all the support, it means the world.

“I think I played a solid match. Fitness wise I feel the best I’ve felt in a long, long time. That’s where Alex has sort of got me in the past.

“I think he may have been struggling with something which may have helped me a little bit but credit to Alex he’s an amazing fighter, an unbelievable player and we’re going to have many more battles to come.”

There are still two more wins required for Draper to seal US Open glory, however, a stat emerged suggesting the omens are on his side.

After claiming the second set, Draper became the first player to go 14-0 sets in the main US Open draw since… Emma Raducanu, who claimed an unlikely victory in the women’s singles in 2021.

In the first Grand Slam since Andy Murray ended his stellar career, Draper has stepped up into the limelight and is taking New York by storm.

His 6-3 7-5 6-2 win in the quarter-final against world number 10 Alex De Minaur saw him become the first British man to reach the last four at Flushing Meadows since Murray won it in 2012.

He has taken advantage of Carlos Alcaraz’s early exit – the Spaniard was his slated opponent in the third round before crashing out – and swept all that have come before him aside.

He will certainly get his toughest test yet in the last four as he will meet either world number one Jannik Sinner or 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev, who are playing overnight in what is being described by some as the de facto final.

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But Draper is very much in the conversation after his breakthrough grand slam and on Friday will take his shot at making a first final.

For De Minaur, whose girlfriend is British women’s no.1 Katie Boulter, it is another quarter-final loss at a grand slam and the Australian appeared to be struggling with injury throughout.

There were reports of De Minaur cutting his practice session short before the match and he was certainly not at his best in the opening exchanges.

Draper took full advantage, with two breaks of serve allowing him to take the opening set – although he missed five set points before eventually whipping a crosscourt forehand home.

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The 22-year-old, whose early career had been stunted by injury problems, got another break early in the second set, but then raised fears when he had a medical timeout for treatment on his hamstring.

But he continued to dominate and had five break points for a 5-2 lead in the second set, only for De Minaur to find his renowned fighting spirit and level at 5-5.

Draper was not in the mood to let it slip, though, and immediately broke back before serving the set out.

De Minaur was under constant threat and Draper moved to finish the Australian off at 2-2, winning four successive games to reach the last four.