Jack Draper advanced to his first Grand Slam semifinal by defeating Alex De Minaur 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 on Wednesday, becoming the first man since 2020 to reach the final four at the US Open without dropping a set. The 22-year-old British player, seeded No. 25, showcased his powerful serve, which clocked in at 128 mph, contributing to his impressive total of 40 winners. He successfully broke the 10th-seeded De Minaur’s serve six times during the match.
“It’s amazing. To be out here, my first match on the biggest court in the world, honestly, it’s a dream come true for me,” Draper expressed following his victory. He is now the first British man to reach the US Open semifinals since Andy Murray won the title in 2012.
Although Draper hasn’t spoken to Murray recently—who he noted is likely enjoying retirement—he emphasized that the former world No. 1 remains a source of support for him. “At the same time … I feel pretty relaxed,” he added. “I feel pretty good, and I’m just taking it one day at a time, and looking to keep on going forward.”
Draper will face top-seeded Jannik Sinner, who defeated No. 5 Daniil Medvedev, in the semifinals scheduled for Friday. Notably, Medvedev was the last player to reach the US Open semifinals without losing a set, prior to claiming the title in 2021. The last to achieve this feat before him was Neale Fraser in 1960.
Draper’s victory over De Minaur, who struggled with a hip injury, marks his second consecutive win against ATP top-10 players, following his triumph against No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in June. Previously, Draper held a 2-11 record against top-10 players.
De Minaur remarked on Draper’s skill, stating, “Jack is never easy to play in the best of times,” and added that Draper’s left-handed play spreads the court effectively. Despite his injury, De Minaur acknowledged that Draper deserved the win, admitting, “In the few chances that I had, I wasn’t able to execute.”
Draper becomes the fourth British man to reach the semifinals at the US Open since the Open era began in 1968. Others include Andy Murray and Tim Henman, with Murray being the only one to capture the title in 2012.
Having previously struggled with physical issues, Draper revealed that his journey has not been easy. He reflected on the challenges he faced last year due to injury setbacks and his determination to improve. “I knew that my time would come,” he stated, and that time arrived on Wednesday.
De Minaur acknowledged Draper’s continuous improvement and impressive work ethic, stating, “He’s got weapons, he knows how to use those weapons effectively.” After starting the year ranked No. 61, Draper is guaranteed to climb into the top 20 of the ATP rankings for the first time.