US Open: Jack Draper sent 'massive' warning after learning his semi-final fate
Jack Draper
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Jack Draper has been told he faces a massive step-up in Jannik Sinner when he takes to the court for the US Open semi-final on Friday.
The British No. 1 thrashed Alex de Minaur 6-3 7-5 6-2 on Tuesday to reach the semi-final of a Grand Slam event for the first time in his career.
And he has done so in incredible fashion, by not dropping a single set, and there are echoes of Emma Raducanu's miracle run in 2021 when she won the US Open without dropping a set.
But Draper faces his sternest test yet on Friday at the Arthur Ashe Stadium when he takes on world No. 1 Sinner, who has had a brilliant year after winning the Australian Open and reaching the semi-final of the French Open.
Jack Draper has learned who he will face next at the US Open
Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev on Tuesday night 6-2 1-6 6-1 6-4 in a seismic clash against the world No. 5 and a spot in the final is now within touching distance.
Speaking after Draper's win before he learned of his fate, former British tennis star Annabel Croft had a warning for the 22-year-old.
She said: "There will be a massive, massive step up in class and level for the next match and that is going to be a huge gulf of difference and he is suddenly going to have to find a much higher level.
"He has shown everyone that he can play at a high level it's whether he can sustain it against one of these big guns.
"It's either going to be Medvedev or Sinner and that is a huge, huge difference in terms of the calibre of opponents he has been playing."
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While Draper definitely faces a tougher test, the youngster is in the form of his life after battling injury troubles earlier in his career.
One injury problem gave him a scare during his win over De Minaur on Tuesday and British legend Tim Henman was left concerned.
But the world No. 25 has insisted that bursting onto the scene this year at the US Open has been no accident.
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Jack Draper reached the semi-final of the US Open in style
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“This is not like an overnight thing for me,” said Draper.
“I’ve believed for a long time that I’ve been putting in the work and doing the right things, and I knew that my time would come.
"I didn’t know when it would be, but hopefully from here I can do a lot of amazing things. I’m very proud of myself.”
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Jannik Sinner will take on Jack Draper on Friday in the US Open semi-final
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Speaking on court, Draper said: "I think I played a solid match. I feel the best fitness wise that I have in a long long time.
"That's where Alex has got me in the past. I think he was struggling a little bit today with something which may have helped me a little bit.
"Credit to Alex, he is an amazing fighter, an unbelievable player and we are going to have many more battles to come.
To be out here, my first match on the biggest court in the world, it's a dream come true for me. Thank you for the support, it means the world."