- Sinner faces Draper in the US Open semifinals.
- Draper is the first to reach the semifinals without dropping a set since 2020.
- He’s the first British man in the semifinals since Murray in 2012.
In a match marked by dramatic momentum shifts, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner defeated No. 5 Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 to reach his first US Open semifinal. The 23-year-old Italian, aiming for his second Grand Slam title, has now made it to the semifinals of all four Grand Slam tournaments this season.
Sinner described the match as “very tough,” noting the physicality and unpredictability of the first two sets, where the player who broke serve first often gained control. With this win, Sinner has now defeated Medvedev six times in their last seven encounters.
Sinner remains the only player left in the men’s singles draw with a Grand Slam title. He will next face Jack Draper, who reached his first major semifinal after defeating world No. 10 Alex de Minaur 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.
On the other side of the draw, Americans Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz will compete in the other semifinal. The winner will become the first American men’s singles Grand Slam finalist since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009.
This was Sinner’s third major meeting with Medvedev this year. Sinner previously overcame a two-set deficit to win at the Australian Open, while Medvedev defeated Sinner at Wimbledon. In their 13 career matches, Medvedev has won seven times, but Sinner has claimed six of their last seven encounters.
Jannik Sinner, reflecting on his upcoming semifinal against Jack Draper, acknowledged their close friendship and familiarity with each other. “We know each other very well,” Sinner said. “We are good friends off the court. It’s going to be a tough one. He’s playing incredible, hasn’t lost a set yet, so he’s in great form. I’m just happy to be in the semis and look forward to seeing who plays better in a couple of days.”
Draper, a 22-year-old left-handed player renowned for his powerful serve, is the first man since Daniil Medvedev in 2020 to reach the US Open semifinals without dropping a set. He is also the first British man to make it to this stage at the US Open since Andy Murray’s victory in 2012.
When asked about advice from Murray, Draper said, “I haven’t spoken to Andy recently. I think he’s enjoying his retirement, playing golf, and spending time with his family. While I’ve received valuable advice from him in the past, I believe it’s important to experience these situations for yourself. Everyone handles pressure and emotions differently.”
Draper also noted that he feels relaxed and confident going into the semifinals. “I know Andy is there for me if I need him, but I’m focusing on taking it one day at a time and moving forward.”
Draper’s victory over Alex de Minaur was significant as it marked his first win against the Australian in their four encounters. This match was de Minaur’s first singles tournament since withdrawing from Wimbledon due to a hip injury.
