Jack Draper cruises into US Open semi-finals in straight sets

[Music] Lexus presents tennis on Sky Sports Daniel khah is in New York for skyports news what a night what an occasion what an achievement I mean words don't really do it justice do it I mean Jack Draper his first ever Grand Slam quarterfinal he's now going to play in his first ever Grand Slam semifinal I mean I think there were a lot of questions how Jack Draper really face the arur rash atmosphere you know the first time he ever played that against the 10th seed in the world and Alex De Mano and I think as Jack drap alluded to there was a lot of talk just before the match that perhaps Manor was struggling with a bit of illness of course we know about his hip injury that he had earlier this year as well however I mean he still was very very good Alex Sor and Jack Draper was just on another level I mean just going through the match a little bit I think the first set was especially important Jack Draper had six set points to put it away and you kind of thought is he going to get over the line for that first set mentally you think that was a huge moment in the match and he he was able to do that the second set a lot tighter 75 again you thought Jack Draper could have put him away a bit earlier but Alex deor showed his class hit a number of very classy winners but then in the third set I also think physicality did play a point because Alex deor came into this one playing 4 and 1 half hours more to this point than Jack Draper had I think we saw that in the decisive sack cuz Jack Draper just ran away with it his forand is one of the best things to watch In the Flesh I have to say it was some the way he rips his forehand Alex deor can keep up with it and as I mentioned I mean Jack Draper now into his first Grand Slam semifinal and let's just give it a little bit more context because we saw the celebrations there but I mean this time last year he just come off the back of six months on and off with a shoulder injury he was 100 and 23rd in the world but now look at him just enjoying the celebrations he's had a brilliant year becoming the British number one winning his first ATP event and now just enjoying that arur rash crowd and you know remember this is the biggest Court of any Grand Slam over 23,000 capacity and Jack Draper putting a performance that any Season Pro would be proud of so I mean he'll be proud his family will be proud but I think after the journey he's been on this will feel extremely special and just a few statistics to just throw out there maybe perhaps good Omens I mean denil meddev was the last man to win or to not lose a set and reach the semi-finals that was in 2020 just putting into a bit of context how impressive Jack Draper done to win 15 sets in a row and also the last player to win in that process of winning 15 of course he had to win 14 sets in a row the last player to do that at the US Open was Emma raducanu in 201 21 and we all know how that ended so perhaps a good omen for Jack Draper absolutely Dan look as you said he played such composed tennis didn't he on such a big stage and we need to remind everyone at the age of of 22 and without pumping up his tires too much I mean you mentioned Emma Raku there but you get the impression Dan that this is a real superstar in the making absolutely and I think when you look at the aspects of Jack Draper's game you know you look at the weapons he has as forehand his service especially are so powerful for any player to deal with I mean I saw him you know serve 125 mph I mean not many players are going to be able to return that accurately anyway and I think especially when you look at this US Open already big players have been knocked out kis alarz who won this a few years ago is out Novak jokovic the defending Champion is also out so it does feel like there's a big opportunity for Jack Draper here especially going into the semi-finals because we'll see in the evening session tonight yanex Seno who's an Australian Open champion from earlier this year he's going to take on a former US Open CH US Open champion in denil meddev so you think they that's going to be a really tough match for both players so perhaps that will help Jack Draper going into the semi-finals but I think let's just remind ourselves Jack Draper who was 123rd in the world at this point last year is into his first ever Grand Sam semi-final and I think off this win he'll find himself in the top 20 players in the world with the rankings as well don't want to dampen the mood maybe just to manage expectations two two points to make one it wasn't the highest quality match 30 unforced errors from each player Dan and the other thing that you might worry about is the strapping a lot of it around the thigh that Draper had put on during the match and obviously walked off with so there'd be just a couple of things maybe to temper all the glory that we're feeling at the moment look I'm half cup full you know me I'm optimistic however I think they are fair points aren't they I mean I think from what I saw in terms of the strapping it did look like it was already strapped and perhaps it was just being restrapped by the doctor but we'll have to wait and see I'm sure he'll be asked about that in his news conference he'll get an update on on that whether it's something to worry about I also think you know it's his first semi-final so he hasn't been this far in a grand stand before so how's his body going to take that mentally physically how's he going to find this experience we'll wait and find out however we heard Jack Draper there after the match I mean he's a very calm composed person after the performance he's just shown yes as you mentioned there were a few errors but Jack Draper wasn't kind of hiding that in the sense he was recognizing that Al Manor perhaps wasn't at his best perhaps understandable as well however all you can do is of course it's cliche to say is beat what's in front of you and Jack Draper through each stage of this US Open has been able to do that and these two matches Thomas match in the previous round and now Alex De Manor who remember head-to-head he lost the last three previous meetings against has shown I would argue incredible mental resilience and I think something he's probably worked himself on quite a lot over the last few years for sure [Music]