By Anshu Taneja
Andrey Rublev drew on all of his Grand Slam experience to finally put away Jack Draper on his fourth match-point 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and reach his ninth major quarter-final, where he will face countryman Daniil Medvedev.
Rublev became stronger during the contest and was ultimately more aggressive on his second serve returns, while arguably Draper became slightly predictable in his serving patterns as the match went on, perhaps a sign that his recent shoulder injury hasn’t fully healed.
Youngster Draper has had a breakthrough tournament by only dropping one set in three matches, and had never reached the fourth round before – but facing the hard-hitting Rublev in sweltering conditions on the Louis Armstrong Stadium was always going to be a tough ask.
“From the first ball it was really physical with him,” said Draper. “I need more match exposure at this high level to be able to come to these tournaments and feel like I can really cope.’
“I can train in a different way now. I can train with more intensity. I can remember that match when I was knackered at the end of it and I need to do more.”
Even though he lost the first set on a single break of serve, 20-year-old Draper trusted in his powerful first serve to set up his mighty forehand and this combination worked well throughout the second set as the Russian became increasingly more frustrated with his baseline game.
He broke serve in the sixth game and then held twice more to level the contest at one set all, leaving Rublev fuming. He even went 2-0 ahead at the start of the third to stir thoughts of another big upset, but the Russian – who has a terrible 0-8 record in Slam quarter-finals – controlled his fury and irritations to regroup and settle himself to not only recover the break but to then break serve again and steal the third set.
From there on it was always going to be a mountainous task for Draper who had never played a five-setter before and has had limited court time in the last twelve months, while Rublev had won 30 of 33 matches when two sets to one up.
Eighth-seeded Rublev ended with 45 winners along with 14 aces, and moves on in the draw hoping to reach a Slam semi for the first time, while Draper – who according to Davis Cup captain Leon Smith only had a 30% chance of playing this tournament due to his injuries – leaves with his head held high knowing he has what it takes to mix it with the big guns on the tour, and in the biggest arenas.
“If I stay fit, I’ve proved it to myself then there is no reason why I can’t be one of the top players in the world, I do believe that,” Draper states.
“”It’s not my tennis which holding me back, it’s my physicality and being able to staying on court consistently. Once I do that I think I will prove to myself I will be able to be one of the best players in the world.”
