Draper Falls to Sinner in Dramatic US Open Semi-Final After Battling Illness

Britain’s Jack Draper endured a challenging and dramatic semi-final at the US Open, where he faced world number one Jannik Sinner. Draper, 22, fought valiantly but ultimately succumbed to a 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 defeat, marking the end of his remarkable run at his first Grand Slam semi-final.

The match began with a tightly contested first set, where Draper caused problems for Sinner, showing flashes of his potential. However, the physicality of the match took its toll on the British player. In the second set, Draper, visibly struggling, vomited on court, signaling his declining condition. Despite his best efforts, Draper couldn’t find the strength to break Sinner’s serve and shift the momentum.

By the third set, Draper’s energy levels were depleted, and Sinner capitalized, quickly gaining control. After the match, a weary Draper warmly embraced his close friend Sinner, who was visibly sympathetic to Draper’s condition.

Sinner, the Australian Open champion, acknowledged the tough nature of the match, saying, “First of all, me and Jack know each other very well – it was a very physical match. I tried to stay there mentally. It was tough.” The 23-year-old Italian now moves on to his first US Open final, where he will face either 12th seed Taylor Fritz or 20th seed Frances Tiafoe in an all-American semi-final.

Despite the loss, Draper’s performance at the US Open has marked him as a rising star in British tennis, with many hopeful for his future success on the Grand Slam stage.