Jannik Sinner has named Jack Draper’s five biggest strengths ahead of their mouth-watering showdown in the 2024 US Open semi-finals on Friday.
British No.1 tennis star Draper, 22, has been surging up the world rankings this year and has reached the last four at a major tournament for the very first time.
Draper conjured up a victory over Carlos Alcaraz earlier this summer – a result which saw him compared to retired icon Andy Murray – but he now faces the biggest match of his career to date as he prepares to face the world No.1.
Sinner, the current Australian Open champion, who is surrounded by controversy after he narrowly avoided a drug ban, heads into the match as a huge favourite.
The Italian, though, is under no illusions that Draper will be a formidable opponent in the semi-finals and has outlined five things he does extremely well.
Sinner has singled out Draper’s ‘great’ movement, the Briton’s lethal serve-and-volleys, his ‘great’ serve and forehand as well as his ‘very solid’ backhand shots.
‘He serves great, hits the forehand great, backhand very solid,’ Sinner said about Draper ahead of their semi-final match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
‘He’s all around a very good player. He makes a lot of serve-and-volleys, tries to go to the net. There are many things he’s doing great.
‘He’s in the semis of a Grand Slam, so whoever reaches these kind of results, it’s going to be a tough match.
‘He’s also moving great. All around, it’s going to be a tough match for both of us, in any case. Also, mentally a lot.
What is the head-to-head record?
Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper have previously met once before on the ATP Tour, which came at Queen’s Club in 2021.
Supported by a passionate British home crowd, Draper conjured up an impressive 7-6 7-6 victory against the Italian.
‘Semis, they are a bit different than first or second round, so let’s see whoever handles this better. And I’m looking forward to it.
‘I played against him at Queen’s [Club] on grass some years ago, but it’s nice to see our process, growing as a player and as a person, so it’s good.’
Draper has been in the form of his life at Flushing Meadows, becoming just the fourth man in the Open Era to reach the US Open semi-finals.
He is yet to drop a set in New York and is the first player to go 14-0 in sets in the tournament’s main draw since Emma Raducanu’s run to the 2021 women’s title.
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