Sinner dispatches Draper 7-5, 7-6, 6-2 to reach maiden US Open final

While the dust continues to settle regarding his two positive drug tests despite being cleared of any offense or negligence, Jannik Sinner has his sights set on the US Open trophy. The twenty-three-year-old Italian is the reigning Australian Open champion, world #1, and a first-time semifinalist in NY. Having lost just two sets in five rounds, he was ready to go the distance to advance to the championship round.

Jack Draper from Britain has achieved a career-high rank of #25 on the heels of his first ATP Tour title this past spring on the grass in Stuttgart. The twenty-two-year-old southpaw has quietly and efficiently progressed through the draw without dropping a set. In just three main draw appearances he has reached the final four. In 2021 on the grass at Queens Club, he prevailed in two tiebreak sets in their lone previous tour-level meeting.  

Sinner won the toss and elected to receive. Draper donated a double fault but with a 128mph ace out wide, held to 30 while Sinner leveled with a 124mph ace out wide.

Draper opened the third with his second double fault but with an ace up the tee, held for 2-1. Sinner made 4/5 first serves and held easily to 15 for 2-2. The Brit held to love with a deft inside-out backhand volley and Sinner held at love for 3-3 with a terrific inside-in forehand.

Image/AFP

Draper missed 5/6 first serves, faced break point, and dumped serve with a forehand unforced error. Sinner serving with new balls missed 4/6 first serves and with four unforced errors, gave back the break.

Draper threw in his third double fault but with a spectacular forehand down the line, held to 30 for 5-4. Sinner serving to stay in the set, committed three additional unforced errors but with two more winners including an ace out wide, held for 5-5.

Draper sweating profusely hit three colossal aces but with seven unforced errors including three double faults dropped serve. Sinner opened the twelfth with an unreturnable serve and consolidated the break at love to secure the set 7-5.

Draper served first in the second and held after four deuce, two break points, and twelve minutes. Sinner missed 7/10 first serves including a double fault but with two consecutive aces saved break point and leveled.

Draper missed 6/12 first serves, faced break point and three deuce points yet held with four stunning winners including a backhand drop volley on game point. Sinner hit four consecutive winners including his fifth ace and held at love for 2-2. Draper serving with new balls donated two successive double faults and faced two deuce and a breakpoint but held for 3-2.

Sinner missed three consecutive first serves yet held at love for 3-3 with an ace out wide. Draper changed sneakers before the start of the next game as they were saturated with sweat. Although he missed 5/6 first serves and a ball dropped out of his pocket, he held to 30 for 4-3. Draper began to vomit behind the baseline and called for the trainer.

Sinner hit his seventh ace but as the unforced errors mounted, faced three deuce points before holding with a formidable forehand inside-in and a mishit return. The 25th seed opened the ninth with a remarkable backhand down the line and with two winning serve and volley plays, held to 30 for 5-4.

In the previous game, the world #1 had fallen and injured his left wrist. Despite the apparent discomfort, the Italian hit his eighth ace and held to 15 for parity. Draper opened the eleventh with two consecutive winers including an ace up the tee and held to 30 for 6-5.

Sinner served to stay in the set and force the breaker. Draper once again vomited and refused to stop play to clean the court. Sinner made 3/5 first serves and held for 6-6 with a titanic forehand inside-in. Sinner hit two tremendous forehands and soon led 6-1 before clinching the breaker 7-3 with a monster serve up the tee.

The #1 seed served first in the third with new balls. Despite gifting his second double fault, he held to 15 with his ninth ace while Draper opened and closed with aces to level. Sinner made 3/5 first serves and held to 15 with an extraordinary backhand down the line while Draper held to 30 with a monster serve out wide.

Sinner hit two consecutive winners and held at love for 3-2 while Draper gifted his 10th double fault, faced break point, and dumped serve when Sinner ripped a backhand down the line.

The Italian hit three winners including two consecutive aces and consolidated the break at love. Draper serving to stay in the match donated three unforced errors and conceded it when Sinner struck two consecutive winners.

It was a courageous performance by the Brit given his physical deterioration throughout the match. The world #25 acquitted himself admirably in reaching the semis in just his third main draw appearance.  

Sinner stunned the crowd with his impeccable shot-making and formidable defense. He finished with eleven aces, two double faults and won a staggering 77% of first and 74% of second serve points. He was equally effective when returning winning 33% of first and 52% of second serve return points. He saved 3/4 break points while converting 4/11 and hit forty-three winners to thirty-four unforced errors.

For grand slam glory, he will battle American Taylor Fritz. The twenty-six-year-old Californian is through to his maiden grand slam final after going the distance with Frances Tiafoe. Sinner played Fritz twice at Indian Wells winning once. With the stats he posted today, the world #1 will be tough to beat.