What satisfaction for Jack Draper, qualified for his first Grand Slam quarter-final. The 22-year-old dispatched Tomas Machac this Monday, in three short sets, without leaving the slightest suspense (6-3, 6-1, 6-2). He is the first Briton to reach this stage at the US Open since 2016 and Andy Murray. A not insignificant statistic for someone who is provisionally ranked 23rd in the ATP, and who is aiming much higher. He will challenge Alex De Minaur in the quarterfinals. More than playable.
“Murray? If I have half his career, I’ll be happy” “I miss Andy a lot, of course,” admitted Jack Draper on court, after learning that he was the first Briton in the quarter-finals since the Scot. “He had an incredible career. He’s a tennis icon. I miss him in the locker room, especially being around his stinky shoes and all his stinky clothes (laughs). If I have half of the career he had, I will be a happy man.” Regarding the match, there is little to complain about. Draper conceded only 26 games in 4 matches, the sixth best total in the history of the tournament, behind Novak Djokovic (2011, 2012, 2013, 2016) and André Agassi (2002) “The fundamentals were respected. Machac is a very solid player who has won some great matches since the start of the tournament, so I knew I had to take my chance and play at my best. I’m proud of my performance. Confidence helps me win matches. I have no drop in revs so all the lights are green,” added Draper.
