US Open: Jack Draper thrashes Alex de Minaur to reach maiden grand slam semi-final – live reaction

Right, that’s it from me. Of course we’ll have a match report from our man in New York, Tumaini Carayol, soon. And we’ll also have reports on Sinner v Medvedev and Swiatek v Pegula too. This will keep you entertained for some of the wait until the night session … yes, Draper will have to produce a seismic shock in the semi-finals if he’s to have a chance of repeating Murray’s success in New York, but the way he’s playing he’s certainly in the mix. Thanks for reading and emailing. Bye!

Henman says he’d much rather Draper meets Medvedev in the semi-finals. “I’d love to see Jack play Medvedev. Given Medvedev’s court position [standing so far back] he’d get much more opportunity to implement his style and his volleys.” Medvedev and Sinner face off in the second match of the night session, with Iga Swiatek playing the American Jessica Pegula in the last of the women’s quarter-finals first. The night session starts at 7pm New York time/midnight BST.

Draper’s the first British man to reach the US Open semi-finals since a certain Andy Murray won the title in 2012. And Murray won it that year. But we shouldn’t get too ahead of ourselves given that Sinner or Medvedev will be Draper’s next opponent; Draper will be the big underdog. But he couldn’t have played much better to get to this point and his confidence will be as high as it could be against either the world No 1 Sinner or Medvedev, the winner here in 2021.

“It’s amazing, my first match on the biggest court in the world, it’s a dream come true,” Draper says as he’s interviewed on-court by Brad Gilbert. “I played a solid match. I feel the best fitness-wise I have in a long time, that’s where Alex has got me in the past. And I think he was struggling physically with something today. Credit to Alex, he’s an amazing fighter, an unbelievable player and we’re going to have many more battles to come.”

Draper is then asked about his Andre Agassi-style throwback hi-tops, which he’s put on for the on-court interview. Would he be able play in them? “No chance, I don’t know how he moved with these shoes, honestly. I can’t imagine sliding in these,” he says.

And will he be watching Sinner v Medvedev? “I’m a big tennis fan so I’ll definitely be watching if it doesn’t go on too late and just enjoy the win and relax.”

Draper defeats De Minaur 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 to reach semi-finals!

Draper breaks: Draper* 6-3, 7-5, 5-2 De Minaur (*denotes next server)

The finish line is in sight for Draper as he charges to 0-40 on De Minaur’s serve to make that seven points on the spin. De Minaur briefly stops the rot for 15-40 but can advance no further. Draper will serve for a place in his first grand slam semi-final and De Minaur looks physically and mentally done.

Third set: Draper 6-3, 7-5, 4-2 De Minaur* (*denotes next server)

Laura Robson says on Sky that she feels a little sorry for De Minaur, given that he’s not fully fit today. Tim Henman says he doesn’t quite feel the same, because his loyalties lie with Draper. And Draper’s showing little sympathy for his opponent as well … at 15-40 De Minaur thinks he’s got a chance to restore parity in the third set, but Draper ruthlessly rattles off the next four points to hold.

Draper breaks: Draper* 6-3, 7-5, 3-2 De Minaur (*denotes next server)

But anything the Demon can do… now it’s Draper turn to show his speed around the court. De Minaur’s drop shot is too high over the net and Draper gobbles it up. 0-15. Then 0-30. Another error from De Minaur and it’s 0-40. Draper gets into the rally but can’t take full advantage. But he does on the second break point when he drives a forehand winner down the line! He leads by two sets and a break and it’s getting harder to see a way back for De Minaur, who’s clearly not at 100% physically.

Third set: Draper 6-3, 7-5, 2-2 De Minaur* (*denotes next server)

Ridiculous stuff at 30-15 as De Minaur, on the run diagonally forwards from deep left to forward right, somehow stretches to Draper’s volley and pulls off a forehand winner for the highlights reel. 30-all. But a strong serve deep into the corner from Draper makes it 40-30. And the Brit holds.

Third set: *Draper 6-3, 7-5, 1-2 De Minaur (*denotes next server)

Not much giving on serve here. De Minaur gets the third set under way with the minimum of fuss, holding to love. Draper replies with a hold to 15. De Minaur then matches that. And here’s Trotman again, offering some encouraging words to his charge. He definitely helped steady Draper at the denouement of that second set, and it was impressive to see Draper stay so calm amid the drama; he’s been so composed of late, though having said that he did smash a racket in Cincinnati. But the mental side of his game is an area he’s made huge improvements in this year.

Draper wins the second set 7-5

Draper breaks: Draper* 6-3, 6-5 De Minaur (*denotes next server)

Trotman’s words do the trick, because Draper has two break points at 15-40. He’s wincing after the first but waving his racket in celebration after the second! The Brit has somehow wrested back the momentum in this match having weathered a big storm for the past 15 minutes and has the chance to serve out the second set. But the way this second set has gone, that is by no means guaranteed …

Second set: Draper 6-3, 5-5 De Minaur* (*denotes next server)

Oof, Draper holds to love. He needed that. “I back your ball striking mate, come on let’s go,” are the words of encouragement from his coach this time.

Second set: Draper* 6-3, 4-5 De Minaur (*denotes next server)

Draper, like Nadal, plays left-handed despite being right-handed. Which means his double-handed backhand is usually like a second powerful forehand. But his leg injury means he’s struggling to get the power on his backhand side, and De Minaur holds to 30. “Jack, you’re going to have to keep these points short,” his coach says. Meanwhile the ambidextrous skills of Draper and Nadal has got me thinking … cue some more trivia time… are there any other similarly talented players past or present? I believe Carlos Moya is left-handed but played right-handed. Over to you…

De Minaur breaks: Draper 6-3, 4-4 De Minaur* (*denotes next server)

This is the best phase of the quarter-final so far, if you’re a neutral or a De Minaur fan, because De Minaur looks right up for it and we’ve got a match on our hands. 0-15, 0-30, 0-40. Now Draper will have to dig his way out of a big service hole. The Brit saves the first break point but bashes well out on the second. Now it’s Draper who’s looking a little tired and unsure of his movement, and De Minaur with the new-found momentum.

Second set: Draper* 6-3, 4-3 De Minaur (*denotes next server)

Now it’s Draper’s turn to apply some pressure. 0-15, 0-30, 0-40. If Draper takes one of these three break points he’ll be serving for a two sets to love lead. But three first serves get De Minaur out of trouble. A fourth break point follows, again De Minaur lands a first serve that is too much for Draper to handle. Deuce. Advantage Draper, a fifth break point. This time Draper hits a strong, deep return but it’s still not enough. Deuce. Advantage De Minaur. Deuce. Advantage De Minaur. Game De Minaur. Phew. This is turning into attritional stuff.

Second set: Draper 6-3, 4-2 De Minaur* (*denotes next server)

Draper looks to be cruising at 40-15 but De Minaur comes back at him for deuce. And a terrible drop shot from Draper, the third drop shot he’s hit in this game, gives De Minaur the momentum to get to break point. Draper misses his first serve, lands his second, the pair go cross-court, then down the middle, then De Minaur comes forward … and Draper picks him off with the pass! James Trotman, Draper’s coach, is telling the Brit to take his time. He does, and slams down a 126mph serve. Advantage Draper, game Draper. That could prove to be a crucial hold.

Second set: Draper* 6-3, 3-2 De Minaur (*denotes next server)

Top marks to De Minaur, who recovers from 30-40 down to squeeze through on serve. And top marks to Peter Fletcher, Dean Moull and John Hughes, who correctly name the four other British male US Open quarter-finalists: Murray, Henman, Lloyd and Rusedski. It was 20 years ago that Henman then went on to reach the semi-finals; I was at Flushing Meadows that year, it was the first overseas grand slam I covered. All in all, it’s making me feel rather old.

Second set: Draper 6-3, 3-1 De Minaur* (*denotes next server)

The trainer is on … but he scurries past De Minaur and goes to treat Draper! No one expected that. Draper ends up with some heavy strapping around his upper right leg; it’s the leg he was stretching after the first set. But he looks totally untroubled as he races through his next service game to love; it’s still De Minaur, with his hip jip, who’s wincing more.

Draper breaks: Draper* 6-3, 2-1 De Minaur (*denotes next server)

But just after I type that, De Minaur is clutching the hip that he injured at Wimbledon. Gah, it’s the commentator’s curse. The physio is ready court-side to come on after the game. Which could be over soon as Draper has a break point at 30-40. De Minaur dumps his shot long and Draper has the break!

Second set: Draper 6-3, 1-1 De Minaur* (*denotes next server)

Draper changes his shirt between sets and stretches a little; hopefully that’s nothing to worry about. De Minaur found some rhythm towards the end of that first set and what the crowd wants is for these two to go toe-to-toe in the second. De Minaur, right on cue, holds to 30 – with Draper replying with a hold to 15. After Draper led for all of that first set, this match could really be starting to get going …

That’s the 13th consecutive set Draper has won this tournament.

Draper wins the first set 6-3

First set: *Draper 5-3 De Minaur (*denotes next server)

Draper’s return has De Minaur reeling. It’s 0-30 for the fourth De Minaur service game in a row. And Draper gobbles up another second serve to give himself three set points at 0-40. De Minaur lands a rare winner with an inside-out forehand. And he shows great resolve to win the next two points as well. Deuce. But he just can’t shake Draper off; soon the Brit has a fourth set point. This time De Minaur dispatches a backhand winner. And then, with Draper a sitting target at the net, De Minaur fires straight at his opponent … Draper gets his racket to the ball in self defence but isn’t getting that back into play. De Minaur holds from there, but Draper will now serve for the set.

First set: Draper 5-2 De Minaur* (*denotes next server)

Draper glides to 40-15 courtesy of another ace, but is then left slipping and sliding to his right and he can’t get the ball back. 40-30. But De Minaur can’t make any further inroads, as Draper sends down another stinging serve. De Minaur, despite the boost of that hold in the previous game, still looks a little subdued, he’s not his normal relentlessly energetic self.

First set: *Draper 4-2 De Minaur (*denotes next server)

Given the talk about De Minaur’s physical condition before the match, it’s interesting to see his first-serve percentage is down at 50% and he’s already hit nine unforced errors. He could easily be two break points down again but Draper, charging forward, nets as the crowd gasp, so it’s 30-all instead. Draper drills long and it’s 40-30, cue a “C’MON” from De Minaur. And then a “YEP” as he holds. That’s De Minaur’s first hold of the match.

First set: Draper 4-1 De Minaur* (*denotes next server)

Draper decides it’s time to stamp his serving authority, balancing out those two double faults in his previous service game with two aces, before rounding things off with a searing forehand winner. So this time he’s able to consolidate the break.

Draper breaks: *Draper 3-1 De Minaur (*denotes next server)

Draper does well to land the overhead for 0-30. He’s never played on Arthur Ashe before, it’s so much bigger than any other tennis stadium with a capacity of 24,000, and while the court size is the same the backdrop could be a bit discombobulating for the 22-year-old. But it’s De Minaur who looks the more confused in this game, again giving Draper two break points at 15-40. De Minaur fends off the first but can’t save the second as his forehand skews wide. Draper re-establishes his advantage after three successive breaks.

De Minaur breaks: Draper 2-1 De Minaur* (*denotes next server)

Draper’s level drops at he double faults for 15-30. He could do with landing a few more first serves here, if I’m being picky. And from 30-all, another double fault gives De Minaur an immediate chance to break back. And the Australian takes it when Draper nets! That’s only the second time Draper’s been broken at this tournament and he’ll be absolutely kicking himself; after sprinting out of the blocks he’s stumbled backwards with four unforced errors.

Draper breaks: Draper* 2-0 De Minaur (*denotes next server)

De Minaur, unusually slow on his feet, drops 0-30 down. He’s yet to win a point. But he gets off the mark when Draper biffs a backhand into the net. Maybe that’ll help De Minaur settle. So it’s 15-30, and the longest rally so far plays out, plenty of ooohs and aaaahs from the crowd … and Draper shows great feel to flick a backhand cross-court winner. Two early break points. Another lengthy exchange and De Minaur blinks! Draper has the perfect start in the biggest match of his career.

First set: Draper 1-0 De Minaur* (*denotes next server)

Draper has been virtually impenetrable on serve this tournament, having been broken only once, and the British No 1 starts as he means to go on. 15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game, as De Minaur uncharacteristically nets a fairly routine forehand. Is that a sign that all is not right with the Australian physically? Perhaps we’ll get more idea on De Minaur’s own serve.

Interesting thoughts from De Minaur ahead of this match. This is what he said after his last-16 win:

It’s the quarterfinals of a slam, so I’m going to go out there and give it my all and compete. These matches are there to be won, being passive is not going to get the job done. So I’m looking forward to the opportunity and excited for the match.

Coming in, I didn’t have too many expectations. [My] hip wasn’t close to 100 per cent. It wasn’t feeling amazing. I just was going to go out there and see what I was able to do. Slowly it’s been feeling better and better each day. So all of a sudden, everything has happened with the draws, a lot of upsets, and you’re staring at this opportunity.

In a way, it’s been a blessing in disguise, because I haven’t put too much pressure on myself, because I know how I felt with my hip. But at the same time, every day I felt better and better. So hopefully I’m peaking for the right moment.

Draper’s playing with a lot of confidence. He’s got some very big weapons; his serve, backhand, and forehand at times. So it’s always tough facing someone like him, especially a lefty.

Let’s talk tactics. This match is the power of Draper’s serve and forehand v De Minaur’s consistency. Draper will hope he can pierce De Minaur’s defences with controlled aggression; De Minaur will hope he can wear Draper down and force him to go for too much and make the errors. But Draper isn’t all about power. He can mix it up and is more than capable of coming to the net.

The 6ft 4in Draper needs to serve aggressively and his lefty serve could cause De Minaur problems; De Minaur isn’t a big server, so Draper should get chances on the return.

In terms of the mental side, the pressure is on De Minaur. For the first time in his career, in his fourth grand slam quarter-final, he’s the favourite. And there’s also the potential issue of whatever caused the Australian to curtail his practice session earlier. “He was looking pale and sweaty,” Tim Henman reports.

The players have made it on to court. De Minaur is all energy, channeling his inner Nadal as he jumps up and down at the coin toss despite his subdued practice session earlier.

Muchova’s victory means that we’re probably about 10 minutes away from Jack Draper v Alex de Minaur. So it’s time for a copy-and-paste of my earlier preamble:

Two months ago, amid Andy Murray’s tearful farewell to Wimbledon and Jack Draper’s first grand slam tournament as the British No 1, Draper was anointed by the scriptwriters as Murray’s ready-made successor, someone who could grasp the baton immediately and carry home hopes that fortnight. He’d had an eye-catching build-up to Wimbledon, beating Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s and winning his first ATP Tour title in Stuttgart, but he couldn’t adjust to the increased expectations and the 22-year-old was bundled out in the second round by the British No 2 Cameron Norrie, who then lost in the next round himself.

But here Draper is, just one grand slam later, playing in his first major quarter-final, eight years after Murray’s last appearance at this stage of US Open. And he’s not dropped a set to get this far. And he’s in the quarter of the draw that lost Alcaraz early on. Make no mistake, this is a superb chance to get to the semis for Draper, the lefty player who’s really right-handed (well Rafa Nadal made a pretty good career out of doing it).

But this is a great opportunity too for Alex de Minaur, who’s also having the best season of his life. The 25-year-old world No 10 is playing in his third consecutive slam quarter-final (he’s the first Australian since Lleyton Hewitt 20 years ago to achieve that particular feat) and the fourth of his career, but crucially for him this is the first time he’s faced a lower-ranked opponent. He lost to the eventual champion Dominic Thiem at the 2020 US Open, the eventual runner-up Alexander Zverev at this year’s French Open and then had to withdraw before his last-eight match with Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon because of the hip injury that also kept him out of the Olympics. He’s exceeded his own expectations by reaching another quarter-final so soon in his recovery.

As for the head-to-head, De Minaur leads it 3-0, including the past two matches on hard courts, but Draper is a different player now, both physically and mentally, and De Minaur knows it. It’s going to be a lot of fun watching how this one plays out.