Jack Draper storms into the semifinals of the US Open with another straight-set win

In his first Grand Slam since Andy Murray ended his outstanding career, Draper has stepped into the spotlight and taken New York by storm.

With his 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 quarter-final victory over world number ten Alex De Minaur, he became the first Briton to reach the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows since Murray's victory in 2012.

His run here is reminiscent of another British success story, when Emma Raducanu shocked the world with her victory in 2021.

It would not be a huge surprise if Draper won two more matches and took the title, but the manner of his victories so far, which have seen him win 15 sets in a row, is reminiscent of a man who has followed a similar path to Raducanu.

He took advantage of the early exit of Carlos Alcaraz – the Spaniard was his scheduled opponent in the third round before he was eliminated – and swept aside all his predecessors.

He will surely face his toughest test yet in the semifinals, as he faces either world number one Jannik Sinner or 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev, both of whom will face each other overnight in what some are calling a de facto final.

But Draper is certainly in the running after his breakthrough at the Grand Slam and will take his chance on Friday to reach the final for the first time.

“It's unbelievable. A dream is coming true for me on the biggest court in the world,” said the British number one in his interview on the court.

“I think I played a solid game and feel fitter than I have in a long time.

“I think that's what Alex has brought me in the past. I also think he was struggling a little bit with something today and that helped me a little bit.

“But you have to give credit to Alex, he is an incredible player and fighter and we have many more fights ahead of us.”

For De Minaur, whose girlfriend is British number one Katie Boulter, it is another defeat in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament and the Australian seemed to be battling injuries the whole time.

There were reports that De Minaur stopped training before the game and was certainly not at his best at the start.

Draper took full advantage of this and was able to win the first set with two breaks of serve – but he missed five set points before finally smashing a crosscourt forehand into the net.

The 22-year-old, whose career was initially marred by injury problems, managed another break early in the second set but then caused concerns when he had to take a medical time-out to treat his thigh muscle.

But he continued to dominate and had five break points in the second set for a 5-2 lead, but De Minaur found his usual fighting spirit and equalized at 5-5.

Draper, however, was in no mood to let the win slip away and immediately managed a break before serving out the set.

De Minaur was constantly under threat and Draper finished off the Australian in a 2-2 draw. He won four games in a row and reached the semi-finals.