Jack Draper: I knew my time would come
British tennis player Jack Draper’s remarkable rise continued at the US Open, where he advanced to the semi-finals after beating Australian tenth seed Alex de Minaur by 3-0 (6:3, 7:5, 6:2) and insisting that was not the case for one night.
Jack Draper became the first Briton since Andy Murray in 2012 to reach the semi-finals of a Grand Slam in New York.
The 22-year-old British tennis player, who has never been past the fourth round of a Grand Slam, has just one ATP Tour title and spent much of 2023 sidelined with a shoulder injury.
“Last year was a real turning point for me as I was plagued with injuries and took a lot of time off in the summer with the shoulder injury”, said Jack Draper. “I got to watch all these young, amazing players winning great tournaments. I was playing on the biggest stage in the world and I felt like I just wasn’t doing enough to get to that point. It’s not something that happened overnight. For a long time I believed that I was making an effort and doing the right things. I knew that my time would come”, added he.
Jack Draper has won all five of his US Open matches without dropping a set, but said he is also confident in his ability to be competitive in five sets.
“I feel like a more complete player. Physically I’ve always been a bit worried about playing five sets. Mentally and emotionally it’s too much for me, but I feel like I have so much strength left. It gives me a lot of peace of mind. I know that the body I feel good and strong and I’m ready to go the distance if I have to”, commented Jack Draper.
He honored American tennis legend and US Open champion Andre Agassi with the sneakers he wore after his match against Alex de Minor. He paused before his on-court interview to change his sneakers to a pair of Agassi’s Nike Air Tech Challenge II, like those worn by the American in the 1990s.
“I don’t know how the hell he moved in those shoes. Honestly, I can’t imagine gliding in them”, joked Jack Draper. Asked if he would play with them, the tennis player said: “Absolutely no chance”.
