British tennis player Jack Draper stormed into the US Open semifinals on Wednesday, defeating Australian Alex de Minaur in a commanding straight-sets victory, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2. This marks Draper’s historic achievement as the first British man to reach the final four at Flushing Meadows since Andy Murray’s triumph in 2012.
Draper’s victory was particularly impressive considering the challenging conditions on the New York hard courts. All four players competing in the quarterfinals faced difficulties with injuries or illnesses, resulting in delays for both matches. Despite these setbacks, Draper remained resilient, showcasing impressive form and becoming the only player in the tournament to remain undefeated in sets.
“I think I played a solid match,” Draper shared in his on-court interview with Reuters. “I feel the best fitness-wise I’ve been in a long, long time and I think that’s where Alex has sort of got me in the past. I also think he was struggling a little bit today with something, which may have helped me.”
From the start, de Minaur appeared to be struggling with his rhythm, committing a significant number of unforced errors. Draper’s strong serve proved decisive, allowing him to secure an early break and establish a lead that he maintained throughout the match.
The second set saw a brief interruption as both players encountered injury concerns. De Minaur, who had previously withdrawn from Wimbledon due to a hip injury, appeared to be moving with discomfort, while Draper required a timeout to have his right thigh strapped. Despite the brief setback, de Minaur managed to break back and level the set at 4-4. However, Draper swiftly responded with a break in the 11th game and consolidated his advantage, establishing a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
In the third set, Draper’s powerful and precise game proved too much for de Minaur, ultimately leading to his fourth defeat in a Grand Slam quarter-final. “The way he can spread the court, being a lefty and really move you around the court, it takes a toll on the body. Accumulation of matches takes a toll, as well,” de Minaur acknowledged.
In the earlier match, Czech player Karolina Muchova, playing in just her sixth tournament since sustaining a wrist injury at the 2023 US Open, advanced to the semifinals for the second year in a row. She overcame a challenging match against Beatriz Haddad Maia, defeating the Brazilian player 6-1, 6-4.
Muchova showcased exceptional form in the first set, quickly establishing a 4-0 lead with a double break. She held her serve to love and, despite Haddad Maia managing to get on the scoreboard, Muchova closed out the set on her own serve.
The second set saw a more even contest, with both players exchanging breaks. However, Muchova, after receiving attention from the physio and doctor, held her serve to reach 5-3. She capitalized on new balls and sealed the victory on serve with an ace. “I think I played good in the key points, meaning when I had a breakpoint or I was serving for a game, I always pulled out a good shot, I think,” Muchova said. “I’m happy that I managed it in two sets again.”
Despite her victory, Muchova revealed she was battling a bug. “I’m fighting (a) bug a little bit. I’m a little sick. I hope it didn’t disturb anyone,” she shared.
Haddad Maia, who made history as the first woman from Brazil to reach the US Open quarterfinals since Maria Bueno in 1968, required medical attention towards the end of the match due to apparent breathing difficulties.
The evening session of the US Open will feature a highly anticipated matchup between top-seeded Iga Swiatek and sixth-seeded American Jessica Pegula. Swiatek will be aiming for her seventh Grand Slam semifinal appearance, while Pegula seeks to break through and advance beyond a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time in six attempts.
