Jack Draper has reached the US Open quarterfinals, becoming the first British player to do so since Andy Murray.
The 22-year-old is one of the most thrilling young talents in tennis today, known for his aggressive playing style that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
However, some fans were upset with Draper during the Cincinnati Open. On match point against Felix Auger-Aliassime, a shot from Draper appeared to bounce twice.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| gb Jack Draper | 23 | 1,131 | 13 - 12 |
Umpire Greg Allensworth ruled it fair, leaving Auger-Aliassime stunned. Draper offered to replay the point if there was clear evidence of a double bounce, but no replays were available at Cincinnati. Fans accused Draper of dishonesty, claiming he knew about the double bounce.
Controversy and Comeback:
Despite this controversy, Draper’s confidence remained unshaken. His performance at Flushing Meadows has been stellar. With Carlos Alcaraz out early in his section, Draper seized the opportunity for an impressive run.
In a dominant fourth-round match against Tomas Machac, Draper lost only six games and secured his spot in the quarterfinals. This made him the first Brit to reach this stage since Murray’s epic five-set loss to Kei Nishikori in 2016.
Fans might think it’s cool how Draper’s idolization of Murray fuels his own career growth.
Murray has always been a hero for Draper. When asked about reaching similar heights as Murray by making it to the quarterfinals, he didn’t hold back on admiration for his retired compatriot.
“No Andy I obviously miss,” said Draper. “Shout out to him. What an unbelievable career the guy has had… Andy is a legend.”
Tennis is adjusting to life without Murray after his retirement, and it’s clear that those who looked up to him miss him deeply as they continue their own journeys.
Draper’s win over Machac was surprisingly smooth considering their past close matches; perhaps Machac just wasn’t at his best this time around.
“I thought that the past few times we have played it has been a really tough battle,” said Draper post-match. “Today I thought I played a decent level… it was amazing to play out here on Louis Armstrong.”
What do you think? Can Jack keep up this momentum?
