Few players reach their maiden Grand Slam semi-final without the drop of a set.
Indeed, the last player to do so prior to this year’s US Open was a certain Emma Raducanu during her scarcely believable fairytale run to the title back in 2021.
Fast forward three years, and another Brit by the name of Jack Draper has repeated the feat, breezing through five rounds of best-of-five Grand Slam tennis to find himself in his first ever major semi-final without conceding a set.
Throughout this milestone run, the British No 1 has been broken just three times, two of those breaks coming in Wednesday’s demolition of Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals.
Such blistering form would usually indicate a player operating at the height of their ability, yet one of the more remarkable aspects of Draper’s US Open campaign so far is that he does not feel as though he has yet hit his peak.
Draper: I was solid
“I felt like my level today was solid, there were some glimpses of really good stuff,” the world No 25 said in his post-match press conference.
“I still have some levels to go if I get pushed.”
The latter half of these comments is particularly revealing. Draper’s assertion that he still has gears to find ahead of Friday’s semi-final is one thing, but the implication that he has yet to be really tested is quite another.
This is a player who, prior to this tournament, had only reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam once in his career. To then leapfrog into a maiden semi-final without finding or requiring his best level is an ominous indicator of Draper’s potential.
draper’s seamless run could work against him in meeting with sinner
Facing world No 1 and reigning Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner in the last four, one would imagine “when I get pushed” would be a more accurate reflection of “if I get pushed.”
In order to reach his first Grand Slam final, Draper will need to be at his very best in every department throughout the match, as well as hoping for a rare dip in form from the Italian.
To this end, perhaps the Briton’s relatively carefree run thus far could possibly work against him. After all, it is difficult to summon top form at the click of a finger without having played oneself into it.
Not that Draper has not performed well – quite the contrary. His showing against De Minaur was, at times, breathtaking, as it was against Tomas Machac in the fourth round. But he was playing against a wounded Australian who was operating far below his best, while Machac wilted under the pressure of a first last-16 appearance in a major.
It would be unfair on his five opponents at this year’s US Open to claim that Draper has had an easy route to the semi-finals, but it is worth noting that the calibre of the challenge coming his way has perhaps been below what would be expected in a run to the last four of a Grand Slam.
Nevertheless, few would argue the Briton is not a deserving semi-finalist, one who has used the frustrations of last year’s injury woes to propel him to new heights this season.
“Last year was a real turning point for me,” Draper continued.
“When I had my injury setbacks I had to watch all of these young amazing players winning amazing tournaments and playing on the biggest stages in the world. I felt like I just wasn’t doing enough to get to that point myself.
“I’ve believed for a long time that I’ve been putting in the work and doing the right things and I knew that my time would come.”
early-morning walks in empty stadium key to coping with debut on arthur ashe
A particularly impressive aspect of his performance in the quarter-finals was how well he managed his debut appearance inside tennis’ biggest stadium.
The cavernous, 24,000-capacity arena that is Arthur Ashe Stadium is arguably this sport’s most intimidating court. Yet Draper showed few, if any, signs of nerves – especially as he served for the greatest win of his career.
He revealed after the match that early-morning walks round the empty stadium, as well as daily practices on the US Open’s main show court, helped him prepare mentally for such an occasion.
“Every morning it has been a ritual of mine because I practise so early,” he said.
“I have gone and taken a look around while it has been empty. I have been going out not knowing I would play but taking a look because it is one of the most iconic stages in the sport.
“I think that helped me get used to it today.”
Frankly, getting past Sinner will be a mammoth task. It may well prove one step too far for the Brit this year.
However, based on the scintillating tennis we have seen so far from the world No 25, plus his own assertion that he is yet to hit top gear, if Draper can find his highest level from the off against the Italian on Friday, then a seismic upset remains eminently achievable.
For all Sinner’s experience and ability, he too will be wary of facing a player who has so seamlessly glided into his maiden semi-final.
There is no doubt that against the world No 1 Draper will indeed, perhaps for the first time at this year’s US Open, be pushed – and pushed hard.
The big question is, when he eventually is, just what sort of player will be unleashed.
