Tennis

US Open: Jack Draper sees off Alex de Minaur to reach maiden major semi-final

Karolina Muchova beat Beatriz Haddad Maia to reach the semi-final in the women’s singles

Jack Draper celebrates match point against Alex de Minaur during their men's singles quarter-final match at the US Open. Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty
Wed Sept 04 2024 - 22:01

Britain’s Jack Draper beat 10th seed Alex de Minaur 6-3 7-5 6-2 on Wednesday in their US Open quarter-final to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final.

Draper, the 25th seed, becomes the first British man to reach the semi-finals of the US Open since Andy Murray in 2012, as well as the first Briton to make it to the last four of a Grand Slam since Cameron Norrie at Wimbledon in 2022.

Having beaten unseeded opponents in his four previous matches at Flushing Meadows without dropping a set, Draper faced his biggest test against the Australian, who won their previous three meetings.

However, the 22-year-old had little trouble against De Minaur, who appeared to be hampered by a hip injury, as he cruised to victory in just over two hours to set up a semi-final meeting against either Jannik Sinner or Daniil Medvedev.

READ MORE

In the women’s singles, unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova, in only her sixth tournament back after suffering a wrist injury at last year’s US Open, beat Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1 6-4 to reach the semi-final for a second consecutive year.

Muchova, who returned to action in June after recovering from the injury that led to surgery in February, fought through hip discomfort and leant on her backhand slice to dispatch the Brazilian 22nd seed in 85 minutes.

Muchova made a fast start as she grabbed a 4-0 double-break lead, held to love and, after Haddad Maia finally got on the board, closed out the opening set on serve.

Haddad Maia improved in the second set but Muchova, who suddenly began grabbing her hip between points, unleashed a backhand winner to break for a 3-2 lead before leaving the court with the physio.

The players exchanged breaks over the next two games before Muchova, after having the physio and doctor at her chair, held to reach 5-3 before going on to clinch victory on her serve with an ace on her first match point.

Muchova, who has not dropped a set at the year’s final Grand Slam, will next face either top seed Iga Swiatek or American sixth seed Jessica Pegula for a spot in the final.