Favourite Sabalenka bids for second US Open final
Aryna Sabalenka is the only Grand Slam winner to feature in the US Open semi-finals – BBC Sport takes a look at the four contenders.
Aryna Sabalenka is the only Grand Slam winner to feature in the US Open semi-finals – BBC Sport takes a look at the four contenders.
Jack Draper came bursting onto the scene in 2022 and looked poised to quickly rise to the top of the sport. But the 22-year-old has had to remain patient, overcome adversity and work hard to reach Wednesday’s breakthrough moment at the US Open, where Draper advanced to his first major semi-final.
“This is not an overnight thing for me. 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,” Draper said in his post-match press conference. “I didn’t know when it would be, but hopefully from here I can do a lot of amazing things. I’m very proud of myself.
“I’ve had times when I’ve maybe thought to stop or, ‘Am I cut out for this sport? Am I really good enough?’ And all these sorts of stuff.
“I kept on believing in myself, kept on working. Those are hard moments. This is not a hard moment compared to that. This is a privilege, and this is an honour to be in this position. This is why I work so hard, so I’ve got to just keep it going in my stride. I’m not afraid of being in these positions.”
[ATP APP]Throughout Draper’s young career, injuries have routinely hindered the Briton’s progress. Even in his 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 quarter-final victory against Alex de Minaur, Draper encountered a brief injury scare. He began stretching out his right leg, which was wrapped by the physio at 2-1 in the second set, but it did not hamper Draper’s march to victory.
The past few months, Draper has been enjoying the form of his life, claiming his maiden tour-level title in Stuttgart and now into the last four at Flushing Meadows. Regardless of what happens in his semi-final, Draper’s dream run has already ensured the lefty will rise to a career-high in Monday’s PIF ATP Rankings.
“I’ve been working so hard for such a long time now. I’d say last year was a real turning point for me, kind of when I had my injury setbacks and taking a lot of time off over the summer because of my shoulder injury,” said Draper, No. 20 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
“I had to sort of watch all these young, amazing players winning amazing tournaments. I’m playing on the biggest stage in the world and I felt like I just wasn’t doing enough to get to that point myself.”
Now, the 25th seed is in the spotlight himself. Draper is the only player to not drop a set this fortnight.
“I think coming here this week, I’ve been feeling like a more complete player,” Draper said. “Physically, I’ve always — maybe in the past, worried a little bit about playing five sets and mentally and emotionally it being too much for me, just thinking, ‘Am I good enough to sort of play these best players in the world in best-of-five sets and stuff?’
“I still feel like I have so much left in my locker, I’m not worrying about if it goes longer, if it goes for a long time. It gives me a lot of peace of mind knowing that my body feels good or robust and I’m ready to go the distance if I need to. I feel really strong out there, so that’s something that’s really improved for me.”
Draper’s coach, James Trotman, added that the Sutton native’s physical improvements have been a key to his charge’s recent success.
“Jack has played some really high level tennis matches in the past, but physically it’s been a struggle,” Trotman said. “He’s a big boy, he’s got a big body. It takes time to grow into that. He’s had a lot of injuries and a lot of setbacks, so you’re not banking that consistent work.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]If Alex de Minaur was asked prior to the US Open if he would be satisfied with a quarter-final run, the answer likely would have been, ‘Yes’.
Though the 10th seed suffered a straight-sets defeat in the last eight Wednesday against Jack Draper, De Minaur leaves New York proud of what he has accomplished in his first tournament since suffering a hip injury at Wimbledon, where he withdrew prior to his quarter-final against Novak Djokovic.
“I’d rather try and think about what I was doing six, seven weeks ago and where I am now and try to focus on that, instead of dwelling on what just happened and me potentially having one of the bigger opportunities of my career and it just slipping away from my hands,” De Minaur said in his post-match press conference. “So I’m going to stick with the positives that I’m proud of myself.”
[ATP APP]Boasting a 40-13 season record, the Sydney native was aiming to become the first Australian man in the US Open semi-finals since Lleyton Hewitt in 2005.
Despite showing signs of being hindered by injury, De Minaur did not blame his ailments after the loss.
“Sure, I wish I felt better. Let’s just put it that way. It’s tough. It’s a big opportunity. It’s a big chance,” De Minaur said. “I was expecting to feel better, I was trending in the right direction. And today was a little bit the opposite of that. But yeah, it’s fine.
“I dealt with it after Wimbledon. I’ll deal with it after here and I’ll be back in no time, and hopefully sliding from side to side without a thought in my head.”
Competing in his first hard-court tournament since Miami in March, De Minaur entered the quarter-final with a perfect 3-0 Lexus ATP Head2Head record against the 22-year-old Draper. But the lefty’s heavy-hitting fueled him to a breakthrough 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 win.
“I think Jack is never easy to play in the best of times and the way he can spread the court, being a lefty and really [able to] move you around the court, it takes a toll on the body,” De Minaur said.
“He’s got weapons. He knows how to use those weapons effectively. He’s yet to lose a set in this tournament, so he’s got to be doing something right… He’s got big weapons and he can hurt anyone.”
A four-time major quarter-finalist, De Minaur departs the season’s final Slam at eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. He is aiming for his maiden trip to the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Jack Draper’s breakout run at the US Open reaches new heights as the Briton superbly fights his way past Alex de Minaur to reach the semi-finals.
Just weeks after Andy Murray hung up his racquet, Jack Draper continues to remind British tennis fans that the future is bright.
The 22-year-old lefty breezed past 10th seed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 on Wednesday evening at the US Open to reach his maiden Grand Slam semi-final. Draper produced a display full of booming serves and heavy, spinning groundstrokes to earn a two-hour, seven-minute victory and book a last-four meeting with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner or fifth seed Daniil Medvedev.
“It’s amazing, honestly. To be out here for my first match on the biggest court in the world, honestly, it’s a dream come true for me,” said Draper, who is the first Briton to reach the semi-finals in New York since Murray’s 2012 title run, in his on-court interview. “All the support means the world.”
Yet to drop a set. ❄️@jackdraper0 downs de Minaur 6-3 7-5 6-2 to advance into the #USOpen semi-finals!@usopen pic.twitter.com/02J7v9bMKG
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 4, 2024
Draper, who has not dropped a set across his five matches so far in New York, converted six of 20 break points he earned against De Minaur in his maiden major quarter-final. He is just the fourth Briton overall to reach a men’s singles semi-final at the US Open in the Open Era, after Greg Rusedski (1997), Tim Henman (2004) and Murray (2008, 2011-12).
“I think I played a solid match,” reflected Draper inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. “I feel the best fitness-wise that I’ve been in a long time, and I think that is where Alex has sort of got me in the past. I also think he was maybe struggling a little bit today with something, which might have helped me a little bit. But credit to Alex. He’s an amazing fighter and an unbelievable player. We’re going to have many more battles to come.”
Draper started aggressively in his bid for a first victory in four Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings with De Minaur. The Briton broke his opponent’s serve in the opening game and that set the tone for much of the match as Draper’s ability to pull De Minaur around the court proved crucial.
Competing in his first singles event since Wimbledon due to a hip injury, De Minaur appeared to aggravate that area again during the point with which Draper clinched the first set. Almost simultaneously, Draper began stretching out a niggle himself and later had his right upper leg wrapped by the physio at 2-1 in the second set. Yet it did not hamper the Briton in his march to victory.
Although he went on to let a 4-2 lead slip in the second set, Draper produced a classy return game for another, decisive break in the 11th game. The third set was more straightforward, as Draper dropped just six points on serve before wrapping a commanding win that improved his record against Top 10 opponents to 4-11.
Regardless of what happens in his semi-final, Draper’s run at Flushing Meadows has already ensured the Briton will rise to a career-high in the PIF ATP Rankings after the US Open. He is currently up five spots to No. 20 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, and he could rise as high as 14th by reaching the championship match.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]
Czech Karolina Muchova overcomes illness to reach her second consecutive US Open semi-final with a 6-1 6-4 win over Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Grigor Dimitrov’s quest to reach a fourth major semi-final and first since 2019 ended in disappointment on Tuesday at the US Open, where the former World No. 3 was forced to retire during his match against Frances Tiafoe in the fourth set.
The Bulgarian was trailing 3-6, 7-6(5), 3-6, 1-4 when he walked to the net. After the match, Dimitrov shared the details of his retirement.
“I think it’s a combination of everything,” said Dimitrov, who won a gruelling three-hour, 39-minute five-set match in the previous round against Andrey Rublev. “Clearly my rehab process is a little bit slower than before. I mean, I felt a couple of things prior to the match. It’s the game. It’s just the game, and I need to keep my head up.
“As I said, I just need to reassess a little bit of certain things that I can change. Can maybe do a little bit better. Also physically to the way that I have been preparing. But again, given all the circumstances from Montreal up until now, I wasn’t really sure I’d be even able to do as well as I wanted to do. And again, that’s what I’m saying I take this quarter-final any time.”
Dimitrov suffered a third-round exit in Montreal and then lost in his opening match in Cincinnati. He bounced back in New York to reach his second major quarter-final of the season (Roland Garros).
However, physical issues have been a problem for Dimitrov in the latter stages of majors, with the 33-year-old also retiring in the first set during his fourth-round match against Daniil Medvedev at Wimbledon.
Dimitrov is determined to learn from his problems but reveals it is mentally testing.
“It doesn’t get easier, I tell you that much. But when you’ve done certain things a certain way throughout your career, I think a lot of moments outside of tennis really humble you in a very different way,” Dimitrov said. “That’s why when something like that comes around, for sure I take it and I hurt with it, you have to. I don’t want to just brush it off.
“I put it aside, but also I have a lot of exciting things ahead of me. I’m going to get home, and try to rest a little… heading to Asia to finish the year off. So you see, when you put it that way, of course you want to be here and fight for the trophy, but there’s always a brighter future in that sense.
“So will I hurt? Yeah for sure and it should. But I don’t want to just put it aside. I want to also reassess myself and everything that I’ve been going through, throughout these past three, four weeks and see the plus and the minuses. What can I improve, what I could have done better, what I need to do.”
[ATP APP]Dimitrov leaves New York in contention to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time since he won the prestigious year-end event in 2017. The nine-time tour-level titlist is 10th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, 470 points behind eighth-placed Alex de Minaur, who in the final qualification spot will play Jack Draper in the US Open quarter-finals on Wednesday.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Frances Tiafoe’s belief has grown at this year’s US Open with every victory. The American moved past Grigor Dimitrov on Tuesday night to reach the semi-finals in New York for the second time.
With his latest triumph, Tiafoe has put himself firmly in contention of becoming the first American man to win a major singles title since Andy Roddick lifted the US Open in 2003. The 26-year-old revealed that only now has he allowed himself to dream of what could lie ahead in the next five days.
“I just came from the final in Cincinnati. I’m coming here feeling pretty good. It always helps going to a place where you’ve had great success. But to be honest with you, I wasn’t really thinking to make a semi or win the event,” Tiafoe said in his post-match press conference on Tuesday. “I just saw the draw and I was, like, man, I have got to play Ben [Shelton].
“I’m not as highly seeded like I was before, so I don’t know where I’m going to sit at. Playing Ben, that’s not something you’re going to look past, are you? Once I kind of got through that, the draw shakes up, and then you’re kind of, like, why not? Just day by day. Now my feet are in the semis.”
Tiafoe won a five-set thriller against Shelton in the third round before he eliminated Novak Djokovic’s conqueror Alexei Popyrin in the fourth round. The 26-year-old then produced a consistent display to overcome Dimitrov, who was forced to retire in the fourth set when Tiafoe was leading 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-1.
Watching on in Arthur Ashe Stadium was Roger Federer. However, the 20-time major champion was not the only person that caught Tiafoe’s attention.
“That was pretty sick,” Tiafoe said when asked about Federer. “Obviously, I wasn’t thinking about it that much. [I was] more pumped about [actor] Kevin Hart instead of Roger, honestly! The past couple of years at Laver Cup you kind of get used to that, seeing him in the stands.
“But this dude was different. winning five years in a row. The way he looked in the suit is the same way he looked when he was playing. No sweat. You know, tees ironed perfect. What’s up with this dude, man? Hair perfect. It was just funny, man…What a guy. What a legend. So nice he’s enjoying his life. Doing his thing, just popping in wherever he kind of wants to and everyone embraces him. Unbelievable, wherever he goes. I mean, he’s such an icon. Ultimately it was pretty dope. But seeing Kevin Hart was sick.”
[ATP APP]Tiafoe put on a show for Federer, actor Hart and the 23,000 fans inside Arthur Ashe and will hope to do the same on Friday when he faces countryman Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals.
The American, who is No. 16 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, revealed it has been a dream since they were teenagers for himself, Fritz and World No. 14 Tommy Paul to go deep at majors and compete for the biggest titles in the sport.
“I think we all been knocking on the door. Taylor’s been in and out of Top 10. Myself, I was Top 10 this time last year. Tommy is knocking on the door of quarters, playing great. Ben too. It’s only a matter of time,” Tiafoe said. “You put yourself in positions, it’s only a matter of matter of time and the game is open. It’s not like it once was where you make quarter-finals, you play Rafa, and you’re looking at flights.
“I mean, that’s just the reality. Now it’s just totally different and no one’s unbeatable. Especially later in the season when guys are maybe a little bit cooked. Maybe just not as fresh and they’re vulnerable. It’s pretty exciting. First time since ’09 [for an American Slam finalist]. Hopefully it’s me.”
Fritz & Tiafoe make American history at US Open
Fritz takes a 6-1 Lexus ATP Head2Head series lead into the clash but Tiafoe is not concerned about his record against the 12th seed.
“He’s a tough player. He plays great from both sides, has a great serve, he’s moving much better now. It’s going to be tough,” Tiafoe said when asked about Fritz, who is into his first major semi-final. “It’s going to be a big one for both of us, playing for a final. I don’t think those matches are anywhere near what this match would be, so it’s kind of tough to even go from that.”
Tiafoe, who lost in the semi-finals to Carlos Alcaraz in 2022, will be aiming to reach his first major final on Friday and third of the season.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev are the only major champions left at this year’s US Open. However, come Wednesday night just one will remain, with the pair set to meet in a blockbuster quarter-final clash in New York.
Their encounter at Flushing Meadows will be their third at a Grand Slam this year and if their previous matches are to go by, the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd and the fans watching globally will be in for a treat.
Back in January, Sinner rallied from two sets down to overcome Medvedev in a thrilling Australian Open final to clinch his first major. Sixth months later at Wimbledon, Medvedev gained revenge at the quarter-final stage, defeating the 23-year-old in five sets.
Medvedev takes a 7-5 Lexus ATP Head2Head series lead into Wednesday’s meeting and Sinner knows he will be pushed to his limit again.
“[It will be] a tough match. There is going to be a lot of rallies, so hopefully I’ll be ready physically. It’s going to be a physical match, also a mental match,” Sinner said. “I won in Australia, he then won in Wimbledon. That was five sets. So hopefully it’s going to be a good match. We’ll try to do our best on court, hopefully you guys enjoy the next one and then we’ll see how it goes.”
Match of the day 🎾@janniksin 🆚 @DaniilMedwed 💥
These two elevate their game when they face off, both averaging a #PerformanceRating above 9⃣ 📈
Check out how their #Insights stack up from previous meetings👇#TennisInsights | @atptour | @usopen pic.twitter.com/YxKqi51Pvo
— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) September 4, 2024
Sinner is on a nine-match winning streak, having captured his third ATP Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati last month. The top seed swept past American Tommy Paul in the fourth round to reach the quarters in New York for the second time (l. to Alcaraz 2022) and has been impressive at majors all year, reaching at least the quarter-finals at all four Grand Slams. By doing so, he became just the eighth men’s singles player since 2000 to accomplish the feat.
Chasing a Tour-leading sixth title of the season and ninth semi-final, Sinner will be desperate to move past the fifth-seeded Medvedev, who is the second-highest seed left in the draw behind Sinner after Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev exited tournament.
Medvedev will be determined to pour cold water on Sinner’s red-hot form and comes into the meeting with greater experience at Flushing Meadows. The 28-year-old has enjoyed his best moments at the US Open, where he captured his first and only major in 2021 by beating Djokovic in straight sets. He then returned to the final last year but the Serbian Djokovic gained revenge.
Medvedev won his first six meetings against Sinner before the Italian made improvements to his serve and showed a willingness to close the net more to counter Medvedev’s deep return position and flip the script in their rivalry. The 28-year-old feels he is prepared for what is to come.
“I feel like in a way we know our game and what we will try to bring on the table,” Medvedev said when asked about facing Sinner. “Then it comes to always these moments like a deuce and break points, maybe [I’ll] try to surprise.
“Hopefully we can have a great match, I know that if I want to beat him I will need to be at my best, which I have managed to do a couple of times. It’s going to be a great match.”
Sinner vs. Medvedev Lexus ATP Head2Head
| Year | Result | Event |
| 2024 | Medvedev d. Sinner | Wimbledon |
| 2024 | Sinner d. Medvedev | Miami |
| 2024 | Sinner d. Medvedev | Australian Open |
| 2023 | Sinner d. Medvedev | Nitto ATP Finals |
| 2023 | Sinner d. Medvedev | Vienna |
| 2023 | Sinner d. Medvedev | Beijing |
| 2023 | Medvedev d. Sinner | Miami |
| 2023 | Medvedev d. Sinner | Rotterdam |
| 2022 | Medvedev d. Sinner | Vienna |
| 2021 | Medvedev d. Sinner | Nitto ATP Finals |
| 2021 | Medvedev d. Sinner | Marseille |
| 2020 | Medvedev d. Sinner | Marseille |
Medvedev arrived at the major off the back of opening-round exits in Montreal and Cincinnati and produced a patchy first-round performance against Dusan Lajovic in New York, where he eventually prevailed in four sets. However, the fifth seed has been dominant since, defeating Fabian Marozsan, Flavio Cobolli and Nuno Borges in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals at the US Open for the fifth time.
The former Nitto ATP Finals champion, who is currently fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, holds a standout 9-1 record in major quarter-finals, with his only defeat coming to Stefanos Tsitsipas at Roland Garros in 2021. Sinner is 3-5 at the same stage.
Sinner and Medvedev are both chasing their second major crowns and the winner will play 10th seed Alex de Minaur or 25th seed Jack Draper in the semi-finals. On the other side of the draw, Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe are set to face off on Friday in the last four, guaranteeing an American Slam finalist for the first time since Andy Roddick in 2009.
For now, Sinner and Medvedev will be focused on the match in front of them, which is second in the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday from 7 p.m. EDT/ 1 a.m. CET Thursday.
[ATP APP] De Minaur, Draper chase maiden major SF in New York
In Wednesday’s opening men’s singles quarter-final, Alex de Minaur and Jack Draper will each bid to break new ground when they face off in the second match of the day inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 10th-seeded De Minaur, who has won all three of his Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings with Draper, will aim to reach the semi-finals of a Grand Slam event for the first time in his fourth quarter-final at that level. The Australian arrived in New York having not competed on the singles court since Wimbledon in July due to a hip injury, but he has dropped just three sets in four matches en route to the last eight.
The No. 1 Briton in the PIF ATP Rankings, Draper will contest his maiden major quarter-final as the only man in the draw to reach the last eight without dropping a set. The 22-year-old, who lifted his maiden ATP Tour title in Stuttgart earlier this season, will hope his booming lefty serve can help him down De Minaur. Should he prevail, Draper will jump to a career-high No. 20 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Jack Draper is set to play in his first Grand Slam quarter-final when he takes on Alex de Minaur at the US Open – but what does he need to do to win?