World number one Jannik Sinner topples Briton Jack Draper in straight sets to advance to his second Grand Slam singles final, his first at the US Open on Friday at Flushing Meadows.
Top seed Jannik Sinner dismantled 25th seed Jack Draper, contesting his first semifinal at Grand Slam level, with a 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-2 dramatic win after three hours and three minutes in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday.
In his on-court interview, the 23-year-old said: “Me and Jack know each other very well. We are friends off the court. It was a very physical match; I just tried to stay there mentally.”
Adding: “He is so tough to beat, and it is a very special occasion. I am happy to be in the final here.”
The first Italian man to reach multiple singles slam championship matches in the Open Era claimed the first spot in the US Open final by showcasing a brilliant performance against the young Briton.
The 22-year-old made an impressive run on American soil without dropping a set all tournament, which will see him accomplish a new career high of No. 20 in the rankings on Monday.
Sinner will compete for the title on Sunday against an American player, either 12th seed Taylor Fritz or former world No. 10 Frances Tiafoe, playing their semifinal match at the time of writing.
Sinner shared his thoughts about his upcoming championship match, stressing: “I am just happy to be in the final. Whoever it is, it is going to be a very tough challenge for me. I am looking forward to it. Finals are very special days. Every Sunday, you play shows you are doing an amazing job, so I will try to keep pushing. I will see what I can do.”
The first men’s semifinal set off to a tight start as both players produced a consistent display behind their service.
Draper, competing in his first-ever semifinal at a major, held his ground with authority, going toe-to-toe until Sinner found a way to hit first.
The Australian Open champion converted the first break point, and then, the Stuttgart winner reacted fast, breaking straight back to recover lost ground.
He was sweating a lot on a humid afternoon at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, changing his shirt several times across the contest.
Meanwhile, the young Italian served out for the first set at 6-5 after Draper double-faulted on break point, wrapping up 7-5 in 56 minutes, ending the Briton 15-set winning streak in New York.
Following a physically demanding opener, the Sutton native held to open the second set against his adversary, on a nine-match winning streak, continuing to battle, even after he vomited before returning serve.
Sinner clinched a sublime point, firing a massive forehand past his rival at 4-4 (15-40), one of the best points in the tournament, if not the best thus far.
JANNIK. SINNER. pic.twitter.com/QHOqrMeXAE
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2024
He won the point to narrow the gap 30-40 with Draper on serve, though he fell hard on the floor on his left wrist while rallying, holding his wrist right after showing signs of pain.
During the changeover, both players called for the physio, the San Candido-born receiving treatment on his wrist while Draper was attended by the trainer, struggling with stomach issues.
Dramatic scenes of a grueling matchup, but when the time was up, both hit back to the court; on the line, nothing but the chance to debut at the slam final, a factor that certainly added pressure, particularly on the world No. 25.
The world No. 1 would go the distance to pocket the second set tiebreaker with a dominant display 7-6(3), earning a two-set lead over James Trotman’s pupil.
In the third set, Italy’s top racquet secured the break to take a 4-2 advantage, a significant moment in the semifinal, getting closer to his goal as fatigue took a toll on Draper.
Regardless, he never stopped fighting, a brave effort from a young player who has shown he is here to stay.
The world No. 1 eventually notched the set 6-2 with a winner, becoming a first-time US Open finalist.
He finished with 43 winners against 34 unforced errors compared to his adversary’s 29 and 43, respectively.
Moreover, he won 77 percent of the points on his first serve, converting four of 11 break points, moving forward to win 17 of 25 net approaches.
For his part, in his post-match press conference, Draper was asked about the physical issues, commenting: “I definitely felt more excited today, a few more nerves around.
“I’m someone who is quite an anxious human being. I think when you add all that together, sometimes I do feel a bit of nausea on the court. And I do feel a little bit sick when it gets tough. [But] I didn’t have any problems before the match. It just built up.”
In addition, he addressed Sinner’s performance, remarking: “Jannik has, even though he’s so young, been in these situations many, many times. Before [winning] the Australian Open, he kept on getting to the quarterfinals, the semifinals…
“The reason why he’s No. 1 in the world and barely losing matches is because he’s so consistent. His intensity, his ball speed. He’s barely got any weaknesses, and he’s just able to be there point-by-point and raise his level when he needs to.”
The 15-time ATP titlist earned the chance to end the Grand Slam season on Sunday as he started, earning a new career milestone, winning the trophy.
