Jack Draper might have been defeated by Jannik Sinner in the US Open semi-final but he went down fighting every point.
The 22-year-old, who threw up on court three times, was exhausted throughout the contest as the world No. 1 triumphed 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.
But despite losing in straight sets, it does not paint the gruelling battle that both tennis stars endured on a muggy afternoon at Flushing Meadows.
Both were put through the wringer and needed medical assistance as some games stretched on as long as 30 minutes before either were allowed to sit down.
Jack Draper has made a name for himself at the US Open
Sky Sports
Ultimately, Sinner simply had too much for Draper and proved why he came into the US Open as the hot favourite to win his second Grand Slam title of the year.
As for Draper, he has come out of nowhere to win over the New York crowd, who filled up the Arthur Ashe Stadium to cheer him on.
The British No.1 had never reached a quarter-final of a Grand Slam event before the US Open – let alone a semi-final.
The last British man to reach this stage of the competition was Andy Murray in 2012 – which he went on win.
Emma Raducanu was the last British female to reach the semi-final when she completed the feat in 2021, memorably also going on to claim glory.
Draper could not follow his compatriots to the finish line but he has made a hell of a lot of fans along the way – while before Friday, he had never even dropped a set at the competition this year.
And much like Murray, he exhibited that warrior spirit – the never-say-die attitude – to take Sinner to the brink in every set.
The Italian might have won the contest but only by the slimmest of margins in the first set, when Draper’s stomach problems first hit him and saw him lose momentum at the end.
And the second set was much the same, being taken to a tie-break shortly after Draper had vomited on the court.
It was also in the second set when Draper arguably made the shot of the game with a beautifully delicate volley that even the gangly Sinner could not reach.
Jack Draper had won over the US Open crowd during his time in the tournament
US Open
However, moments later, Sinner proved why he is the best in the world when a long rally eventually saw him rush back to the back of the court to respond to a devilish Draper strike.
The 23-year-old took a tumble and fell over while the ball was still in the air, allowing him to get back on his feet, meet Draper’s reply with a thunderous hit of his own and win the point in dramatic circumstances.
Eventually, Draper just ran out of steam in the third set having kept neck and neck with his opponent throughout the contest.
Ultimately, Jannik Sinner was just too good for Jack Draper
US OPen
Draper can have no complaints over the result, despite Sinner breaking rules on the court, but this might be a watershed moment for the young Briton.
With tennis fans crying out for a Murray successor, and it is too early to put such demands on a young man’s shoulders, the British public might have a new tennis hero.
Source Agencies
