Jack Draper fought valiantly and was sick three times on court, but ultimately succumbed to the power and precision of World number one Jannik Sinner who came through in straight sets 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 in just over three hours on court. He becomes the first Italian to reach the US Open Final.
Draper was under constant pressure throughout the match particularly on his service games where he was unable to reach the performances of previous rounds and regularly faced breakpoints, while Sinner – as expected – played more controlled tennis from the back and dominated the longer rallies.
“First of all, me and Jack know each other very well, we are good friends off the court. It was a very physical match as we see,” said Sinner on court afterwards. “I just try to stay there mentally and he is so tough to beat. It is a very special occasion, thanks everyone for coming out. The support has been amazing. Just happy to be in the final here.”
The pair, who teamed up together last month when they played doubles in Montreal, had met once before with Draper winning a tight battle 7-6, 7-6 at Queens in 2021, but a lot has changed since then with Sinner now top of the rankings and winning his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.
The first set went with serve until the critical seventh game where the Brit fell behind. However, he broke straight back when Sinner uncharacteristically threw in four unforced errors and the score was level at 4-4.
With sweat pouring off Draper in the hot and humid conditions, the ball boys had a busy job in-between games mopping up the court; the 22-year-old even changed his shoes at one stage. He had difficulty gripping his racket and in the game at 5-5 he lost his serve courtesy of a double fault and Sinner, who had lost only two sets in his five matches till this stage, broke at the crucial time.
According to ATP Tour statistics, Sinner was top for ‘performing under pressure and winning decisive points’, and that game proved the case in point; it was a matter of fine margins as Draper was 30-0 up and later had game point but was unable to inch ahead. Draper was two points from the set at 5-4 up and deuce on Sinner’s serve but instead the Australian Open champion closed out 7-5 after a clinical game to end the set which lasted three minutes short of the hour.
The stats didn’t make for good reading for the 25th seed; Draper’s first serve was languishing down at 52% as he chucked in nineteen errors to go with his ten winners. The six double faults were the most he had served in any of the sets he has played at the Open this year.
Draper was watched on by his team including coach James Trotman who gave clear guidance to lift his player for the second set: attempt to shorten the points and attack earlier in the rally. “You need to control the baseline,” he said at one point. But in truth this was a fine balancing act given he was facing the world number one in his first Grand Slam semi-final.
Draper was under immediate pressure at the start of the second set after another lengthy game lasting 14 minutes where he was taken to deuce and involved in many long rallies, but he dug deep and came through defending two more breakpoints. Again, he was missing too many first serves, but he stayed tough and forced 0-30 with two big forehands in the next game before Sinner himself fought back to deuce. A first double fault offered Draper a chance to break but he missed with a wild forehand error and Sinner held. Draper was tested yet again in the next game and survived three more breakpoints. As a sign of how physical demanding the match was, the first three games of the second set took 28 minutes before the players could have a sit down.
Games continued going with serve and were long and arduous for the Brit who vomited on the court due to the physicality and tension at 4-4, and during that game the crowd were on their feet with delight after a stunning rally where Sinner won the point after a heavy tumble behind the baseline with a thunderous forehand winner. At the next changeover both players received a medical time out; Sinner requiring treatment for falling on his left wrist while Draper was looking for ways to combat the heat and humidity.
Both players held serve twice more and entered a tie-break where Sinner raced to a 4-0 lead and held five set points at 6-1 ahead. Draper won his next two points but he delayed the inevitable as Sinner, despite the obvious pain to his wrist, held firm to take a commanding two set lead.
Sinner has had a superb year winning five titles including Rotterdam, Miami, Halle and Cincinatti, and foot his foot on the pedal during the third set; and didn’t look back after breaking serve to go 3-2 ahead.
Before the match Draper spoke about competing “like an animal out there” but perhaps did not envision vomiting multiple times. He was attempting to become the fourth Briton to reach the men’s singles final at the US Open, but by the third set was physically spent. Although he had yet to drop a set in the tournament, the experience gained tonight will surely prove to be invaluable for his career as he cements his place in the top 20 next week.
Sinner meanwhile now has the chance to win his second Grand Slam title of the season against either Frances Tiafoe or Taylor Fritz. Looking forward to the final, he said: “I’m just happy to be in the final here whoever it is, it’s going to be a very tough challenge for me but I’m just looking forward to it. The season I’m going through is very, very positive. Finals they are special days. Every Sunday you get to play during tournament means you are doing an amazing job so just try to keep pushing and then we’ll see what I can do on Sunday.”
Sinner’s win-loss record in Grand Slam matches now stands at 60-18 and he will be the favourite heading into Sunday’s showdown.
