Britain’s Jack Draper reached his first Grand Slam quarter final for the loss of just six games, comprehensively beating Tomas Machac 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 in just one hour and 42 minutes and has yet to drop a set in the tournament.
And in a powerful statement to the rest of the draw and tennis world watching Draper, who won 78% of points behind his first serve, only described his level as “decent” despite having never beaten his opponent before.
The opening stages of the first set were fairly even with Draper coming under some early pressure facing deuce in his first game, but from 3-3 onwards it was simply one-way traffic with the Brit winning fifteen games to three thereafter.
“It’s just amazing to play out here in Louis Armstrong Stadium. I lost last year here in the same round so it’s nice to come back and do better this year,” said Draper on court afterwards. “I thought that the last few times we’ve played it’s been a really tough battle. Today I thought that I played a decent level. He was maybe a little off his best but I had to stay strong in the points.”
Having cruised through the opening two sets, the only remaining challenge for Draper was to stay focussed and reach the finish line. Thankfully for him, he got the early break in the third set and continued to dominate in all areas, saving six breakpoints in total and mixed up his powerful lefty serve well.
As an example, when breakpoint down in the final game he served just 97mph in the ad-box and got an easy put away volley before smashing down a 124mph unreturned first serve on the next point. He then stylishly finished the match with a double handed backhand down the line and clenched his fist to his box.
Prior to today, Draper’s best Grand Slam result was reaching the fourth round at Flushing Meadows last year and so the 25th seeded Britain from London builds further on his breakout year where he has won his first tour title in Stuttgart and climbing to his highest ranking.
He now faces the winner of Alex de Minaur or compatriot Jordan Thompson for a place in the semi-finals – and if he manages that he will be the first Brit to reach that stage since Andy Murray’s tournament victory in 2012.
When asked about Murray’s influence on his career so far, Draper replied: “I obviously miss Andy. Shout out to Andy. What an unbelievable career the guy’s had. He’s an icon of the game. I miss him in the changing rooms. I miss being next to his stinky shoes and all his stinky clothes. Andy’s a legend and if I have half the career that he’s had then I’ll be a happy man.”
Meanwhile on Arthur Ashe court, former champion Daniil Medvedev was also in a hurry to complete his match and did so losing just four games in less than two hours against Nuno Borges, an opponent whom he has beaten twice before this year.
The first two sets were over in a flash before Borges finally put up some resistance in the third to go a break up, but was immediately broken back as Medvedev completed a 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 thrashing on his favourite hard-court surface.
“When you are up two sets to love, that’s what always happens, the crowd is for your opponent,” said Medvedev on court afterwards. “Maybe that’s what I should do, lose the first to get the crowd on my side.”
World number five Medvedev broke serve constantly, eight times overall and won 78% of points behind his first serve while his Portuguese opponent – who beat Rafael Nadal on clay in the Bastad final in July – capitulated on his first experience of playing on the biggest tennis court in the world with ten double faults overall. Although he has yet to beat a top ten player in his career he will climb into the top-30 next week.
Last year’s finalist Medvedev is having a mixed year but has still reached the US Open quarters for the fifth time and with his wily hard-court craft and massive serve will fancy his chances of going further. He now faces the winner of Tommy Paul or top seed Jannik Sinner.
