Jack Draper has made history at the US Open, becoming the first British man to reach the quarter-finals since his mentor and friend, Andy Murray, achieved the feat in 2016. The 22-year-old continued his remarkable tournament run, dismantling Tomas Machac in straight sets (6-3, 6-1, 6-2) without dropping a single set or service game. Draper’s impressive performance marks his deepest run at a Grand Slam tournament.
“Incredibly proud of that achievement. To follow in Andy’s footsteps and make the quarter-finals here since he did it in 2016, it’s a big achievement for me,” Draper told reporters. However, he’s not resting on his laurels. “But I think I’ve just got to keep on going because I know that there’s still room for improvement and still room to hopefully go further in the tournament,” he added.
Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion who retired after the Paris Olympics, won the US Open in 2012. While Draper acknowledged that Murray is always a text away, he doesn’t plan to seek advice from his former mentor at this point. “Probably not,” he said. “Obviously, I feel like he would completely understand and respond to any messages I send him and would give me advice, but I think also at the same time, I think he’s kind of enjoying his retirement now and he’s kind of done with it.”
Draper and Murray’s paths crossed in a memorable match at Indian Wells last year, with Draper emerging victorious. That match felt like a passing of the torch for British tennis. “Andy, I obviously miss,” Draper admitted in an on-court interview. “Shout out to him. What an unbelievable career the guy has had. Icon of the game. I miss him in the changing rooms. I miss being next to his stinky shoes and all of his stinky clothes.” Draper concluded, “Andy is a legend. If I have half the career that he’s had, then I’ll be a happy man.”
