US Open men’s semi-final: Jannik Sinner v Jack Draper | US Open Tennis 2024

*Sinner 5-5 Draper (* indicates server) Sinner missed an unexpected groundstroke and the ball flew into the stands, where a lucky fan waved his new souvenir into the crowd.

But the Italian is leading 30-15 and is clearly avoiding Draper's forehand. He knows Draper is struggling with it and is trying to change his pattern. He hits a forehand winner down the line to make it 40-15. He tries the exact same move in the next game but the ball goes wide and it's 40-30.

Draper was taken to deuce after Sinner hit another forehand, but a late response from the Englishman to a forehand in a 15-shot rally gave the Italian the advantage.

Sinner then held on with a serve that Draper couldn't return.

Sinner 4-5 Draper* (*represents server) When Draper missed his first serve, the crowd let out a loud groan. The New York crowd seemed to be on Draper's side. From the coaching box, his coach, James Trotman, gave clear instructions: “Take it slow. Up and back. Let's go.”

The Englishman was down 30-15 but smashed an 81mph forehand just inside the sideline on a Sinner return, which he managed to hold on to, with Sinner serving to stay in the set.

*Sinner 4-4 Draper (* denotes server) Sinner hits the net after a short rally at the start of this game, then uncharacteristically hits a backhand wide to give Draper a 30-0 lead. The Italian hits the net again after a long rally and the New York crowd cheers… Will Draper have a chance here?

On the first break point, Sinner served and the ball went over the top of the net off Draper to make it 40-15.

On his second break point, Draper overhit a shot and made his 10th unforced error.

On the third break point, Sinner smashes a backhand into the net, putting Draper in a tough spot, but he breaks and levels the score again.

Sinner 4-3 Draper* (*indicates server) Draper's first serve success rate plummeted to 53 percent and Sinner led 30-15, but he re-tied the score with a spinning forehand.

Sinner then hit a backhand just out of reach of Draper – the Italian was just behind the baseline and, seeing Draper about to step forward to volley after the second serve, made the decision to hit it far.

First break point… and Sinner took the lead in this semi-final.

*Sinner 3-3 Draper (* denotes server) Sinner does exactly what Draper did to him in the previous match: His aggressive groundstrokes are too much for the world No. 25. He goes up 40-0 and holds on after Draper hits a ball.

Sinner 2-3 Draper* (*indicates server) Draper was smooth here, again toying with the world number one, firing a cross-court shot near the baseline before volleying in. The shot variation continued and the Briton managed to keep the set at love.

A great start from the British player! No one would have guessed that this was his first Grand Slam semi-final.

*Sinner 2-2 Draper (* indicates server) Draper struggles with the return but manages to lunge in time, but is off-balance for the rest of the point as he rushes to the other side of the court. He brings the ball over but Sinner hits a perfect smash to make it 30-0. Draper fights back with a stunning winner but the Englishman mistimes his drop shot and Sinner ends the match.

Sinner 1-2 Draper* (*indicates server) Draper double-faults again. Can he release the tension? In this match he can. He pushes to 40-15, fends off Sinner, and on the final point Sinner hits a cross-court forehand wide to end the match.

*Sinner 1-1 Draper (* denotes server) The Italian was serving well and Draper's returns were a bit sloppy, and Sinner led 40-30 before smashing an ace to tie the score.

Sinner 0-1 Draper* (*denotes server) Draper's early forehand went wide at the baseline and he double-faulted to make it 0-30. Was this why Sinner chose to receive first? Who knows. But luck was on his side after Sinner's forehand hit the tape and went wide. Sinner then missed his next return to make it 30-30. The Englishman then hit an ace to close out the game. That third point was crucial. Sinner had Draper in trouble from the start.

Let's go! Draper will serve first because Sinner won the coin toss and elected to receive. And play…

The players are out at Arthur Ashe. Jack Draper said in a tunnel interview that he would fight “like an animal”, while Jannik Sinner expected his opponent to provide a tough test and said the conditions would be “faster” with the semi-final taking place during the day session.

It was just after 8 p.m. The game was postponed for about 15 minutes while players continued their final warm-up.

In other tennis news outside the US Open, Alfie Hewitt and Gordon Reid have been named gold medallists in the men's wheelchair tennis doubles at the 2024 Paralympic Games. The pair defeated Japan's No. 2 seeds Tokito Oda and Takuya Miki 6-2, 6-1 in straight sets in the Philippe Chatrier match.

Tomorrow's women's singles final will feature last year's runner-up Aryna Sabalenka facing popular local player Jessica Pegula. The Belarusian has made his presence felt by reaching the finals of his last four hard-court majors and the semi-finals or better in seven of his last eight appearances. Is there a way for Pegula to make his presence felt at the Arthur Ashe? Read on to find out what Toumaini-Karayol thinks.

As he looks to succeed in New York, Jack Draper is understandably inspired by Emma Raducanu, the first qualifier in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam singles title.

Emma's achievement was, obviously, incredibly inspiring. I've known her since I was a little girl and what she's done has been incredible. I was so proud of her and so excited. Of course, I've seen players like Andy Murray from Great Britain win Grand Slams, but hers was just like a fairy tale. I think as a competitor, her achievement ignited my passion. I really wanted to achieve what she's done: win a Grand Slam.

Read on to find out how Draper hopes to go beyond the semi-finals and share his memories of playing against Jannik Sinner at junior level.

How did these two get here? Jannik Sinner defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 in an upset quarterfinal match. With momentum swinging back and forth throughout the four sets, Sinner's devastating groundstrokes and combined defensive power were too much for Medvedev, who played below-average tennis overall in a match that demanded his best tennis.

Meanwhile, Jack Draper comfortably defeated Alex de Minaur 6-3, 7-5, 6-2. Draper was determined to control the match at his own pace from the start, forcing the Australian behind the baseline with heavy topspin forehands and then looking for opportunities to capitalise and take control of the match.

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