Sinner and Draper Set to Clash in US Open Semifinals

US-In a match marked by numerous momentum shifts, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner defeated No. 5 Daniil Medvedev with scores of 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, securing his place in the US Open semifinals for the first time.

The 23-year-old Italian, who is aiming for his second Grand Slam title, has now reached the semifinals of three major tournaments this season. Notably, he is the first player born in the 1990s or 2000s to make it to the semifinals of all four Grand Slam events.

“It was very tough,” Sinner remarked in a post-match interview. “We know each other quite well. … We anticipated it would be a physically demanding match. The first two sets were unusual because whoever secured the initial break seemed to gain momentum.”

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Jannik Sinner is currently the only player remaining in the men’s singles draw who has previously won a Grand Slam title. He will next face Jack Draper, who has reached a major semifinal for the first time as the No. 25 seed, following his victory over Australian world No. 10 Alex de Minaur with scores of 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.

On the other side of the draw, two American players, No. 20 Frances Tiafoe and No. 12 Taylor Fritz, will compete in the other semifinal. The winner of this match will be the first American male to reach a Grand Slam final since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009.

This match against Daniil Medvedev marked Sinner’s third encounter with the 2021 US Open champion in a Grand Slam this year.

In January, Jannik Sinner came from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev and win the Australian Open. However, Medvedev got his revenge in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in July, where he beat Sinner in five sets.

Of their 13 career encounters, Medvedev has won seven times, but Sinner has now triumphed in six of their last seven meetings. Medvedev acknowledged Sinner’s prowess, stating, “It’s tough. He’s one of the best players in the world, and he deserves it. He reads the game well and makes the right shots at critical moments, which makes him a challenging opponent. I enjoy playing against such players, as every point matters and strategies come into play.”

Sinner’s performance comes amid the recent doping controversy that became public on August 20. Despite the shockwaves in the tennis community, Sinner, who faced no suspension after testing positive for trace amounts of a banned substance, has maintained his innocence. In his post-match press conference, he expressed gratitude for his support system, saying, “I have my team and people close to me who know me and believe in me. It was a tough situation at first, but each day it got better. I’m happy to have their support, both on and off the court.”

Sinner will next face Jack Draper, whom he has only played against once before. Draper won their previous encounter on grass at Queen’s Club in London in 2021. Sinner acknowledged their familiarity and friendship, stating, “We know each other well and are good friends off the court. It’s going to be a tough match. He’s playing incredibly well and hasn’t lost a set yet, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Draper, a 22-year-old left-handed player known for his powerful serve, is the first man since Medvedev in 2020 to reach the US Open semifinals without dropping a set. He is also the first British man to make the semifinals since Andy Murray’s 2012 title win. Draper mentioned, “I haven’t talked to Andy recently. I think he’s enjoying his retirement and spending time with his family. I’ve spoken to him before about playing in big Grand Slam matches, and his advice has been valuable. But it’s important to experience these moments yourself. I feel relaxed and am taking it one day at a time.”

Draper’s win over Alex de Minaur was his first in four attempts against the 25-year-old Australian. This was de Minaur’s first singles tournament since he withdrew from Wimbledon due to a hip injury.

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