US Open 2024: Jack Draper vs Jannik Sinner – semi-final preview, head-to-head & how to watch
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Jack Draper is into the first Grand Slam semi-final of his career as he gets set to face top seed and world No.1 Jannik Sinner for a place in the final.
Here’s everything you need to know about the US Open semi-final.
When is Jack Draper vs Jannik Sinner?
Draper and Sinner will play their US Open semi-final on Friday 6 September on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The match will start around 20:00 UK time.
Jack Draper vs Jannik Sinner head-to-head
Draper and Sinner have faced each other just once back in 2021 in the first round at the cinch Championships.
At the age of 19, Draper clocked his first ATP win against the then world No.23 Sinner 7-6(6), 7-6(2) in front of a 2000 strong crowd.
Jack Draper vs Jannik Sinner journey to the semi-finals
Here’s a rundown of how Draper and Sinner have reached the semi-finals:
|
|
Jack Draper |
Jannik sinner |
|
Quarter-final |
Bt. Alex De Minaur (AUS, world No.10) 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 |
Bt. Daniil Medvedev (world No.5) 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 |
|
Fourth round |
Bt. Tomas Machac (CZE, world No.39) 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 |
Bt. Tommy Paul (USA, world No.14) 7-6(3), 7-6(5), 6-1 |
|
Third round |
Bt. Botic Van De Zandschlup (NED, world No.74) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 |
Bt. Christopher O’Connell (AUS, world No.87) 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 |
|
Second round |
Bt. Facundo Diaz Acosta (ARG, world No.64) 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 |
Bt. Alex Michelsen (USA, world No.49) 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 |
|
First round |
Bt. Zhizhen Zhang (CHN, world No.41) 6-3, 6-0, 4-0 (RET) |
Bt. Mackenzie McDonald (USA, world No.140) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 |
Preview
There’s no doubt that this will be Draper’s toughest challenge so far at the US Open as he looks to take on the world No.1 and the current Australian Open champion.
Sinner hit form at the back end of 2023 when he finished runner-up at the Nitto ATP Finals before going on to lead Italy to only their second Davis Cup title in history.
From there he went to on to claim his first Grand Slam title in Melbourne, before also sealing titles at the Miami Open, Cincinnati Open, Rotterdam and Halle, as well as reaching the semi-finals at Roland Garros. His current record on the season in 53-5.
Draper is having a standout season of his own. The Brit won his first ATP title in Stuttgart, made the final in Adelaide and got his career-best win over former world No.1 and four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Draper is the only player in the men’s singles semi-finals who hasn’t dropped a set yet at the US Open and is the first man to do so since Daniil Medvedev (2020).
He’s now only the fourth British man to reach the semi-finals in Flushing Meadows – joining Greg Rusedski (1997), Tim Henman (2004) and Andy Murray (2008, 2011 & 2012).
Key stats at US Open
The serve has been a key weapon for the Brit throughout the tournament so far and he’s quickly making a name for himself as one of the most effective servers on the Tour.
In his last two matches against Tomas Mahac and Alex de Minaur his points on first serve percentage has been at 78% and 84%. When it lands, Draper is causing huge damage on his big lefty serve.
However, one area he will be keen to build on is improving the consistency of his first serve. Against Mahac he made 47% of first serves in and 56% against De Minaur. To beat the world No.1 Draper will be looking to boost that number and put the pressure on Sinner.
Draper has also been impressive in the pressure moments during his matches. In the fourth round he saved six of six break points and the five of seven in the quarter-final, while breaking six times in both.
Sinner has continued to build momentum through this tournament, with standout results against world No.14 Tommy Paul and Medvedev in the previous rounds. In both matches, the Italian impressed coming into the net. Taking on home favourite Paul he won 80% of points at the net (20/25), and then 85% (28/33) against Medvedev – more than 10% higher than his opponent in both.
There won’t be many free points on offer for Draper either. Sinner has hit just four double faults in his last three matches and has hit an average of 25% fewer unforced errors than his opponents.
How to watch Jack Draper vs Jannik Sinner
You can watch Jack Draper and Jannik Sinner and the rest of the US Open quarter-finals exclusively on Sky Sports Tennis and Now TV.
