'Slipping away from my hands': Demon's US Open dream dashed by ...

Another grand slam quarterfinal, another dream dashed by injury for Australian star Alex de Minaur, who has bowed out of the US Open at the hands of English talent Jack Draper.

But taking a leaf from the book of legend Roger Federer, the world No.10 said after falling in a major quarterfinal for the fourth time in his career 6-3 7-5 6-2 that he will do his best to never retire from a match due to injury, no matter how much he is suffering.

A couple of months after being unable to take to the court for a Wimbledon quarterfinal against Novak Djokovic, de Minaur’s movement was clearly compromised in New York on Wednesday as his hopes of progressing ended at the hands of the emerging English star.

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 04: Jack Draper of Great Britain hugs after defeating Alex de Minaur of Australia during their Men's Singles Quarterfinal match on Day Ten of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 04, 2024 in the Flushing neighbourhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 04: Jack Draper of Great Britain celebrates match point against Alex de Minaur of Australia during their Men's Singles Quarterfinal match on Day Ten of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 04, 2024 in the Flushing neighbourhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“Stopping didn’t cross my mind at any stage. It’s not part of me, part of my DNA. I don’t like it, if I’m honest. I’m always going to give my best,” he said.

“And look, it could have been naive of me, but I genuinely thought that there was a chance even in that last game going in. I thought that there was a chance that I was going to, change the match around and go out there and win it.

“So at every stage in that match, I gave myself a shot, with my attitude, with my mindset, to go out there. I had some chances, as well, that ... if I would have taken them, then maybe I would still be on court right now.

“So retiring, that’s not part of me. I think over my career, you’ll very rarely witness that.”

Former English star Tim Henman, a semifinalist in New York 20 years ago, raised concerns about the fitness of de Minaur in a preview for Sky Sports prior to the quarterfinal in the first sign that something was amiss with the Aussie.

He had watched the Australian, who had arrived in New York with few expectations only to improve in the first week, closely during his warm-up session earlier on Wednesday in New York and noted he was struggling to get up to his serve during the session.

It was apparent early in the match that the 25-year-old, who suffered a rare injury to an attachment between the hip and abdomen late in a 4th Rd win at Wimbledon in July, was far below his peak.

The No.10s seed’s straight-line movement was still strong, but his ability to change direction or make the transition from defence into attack in the blink of an eye was clearly diminished.

He was reluctant initially to confirm whether he was injured when praising Draper who, after an errant path in the second set when clearly in control given de Minaur’s issue, knuckled down to set up a semifinal against either Daniil Medvedev or Jannik Sinner.

“I just want to say I’m very proud of myself, of what I have achieved, all things considering, doing everything I could to be in this position. Today it wasn’t meant to be, but I’m proud of my efforts,” he said.

“Jack is never easy to play in the best of times, and the way he can spread the court, being a lefty and really move you around the court, it takes a toll on the body. (The) accumulation of matches takes a toll, as well.

“But he played well. He deserves the win. He moved me around the court and served great. In the few chances that I had, I wasn’t able to execute.”

There were several occasions during the match where de Minaur, who sits seventh in the ATP Tour points race this year, reached for his left hip and glute region during the match.

As an indication of his curtailed movement, despite being on the receiving end of a beating, de Minaur covered far less ground in the match, which is unusual given his style of play. Draper covered 550m more through the match, or on average three metres per point.

Whenever pushed wide into the court by Draper, who to his immense credit is playing superbly and is yet to drop a set through the tournament, the Sydneysider struggled to push back into the court.

From the opening the Australian, who was beaten by Alexander Zverev in a high-class quarterfinal at Roland Garros, struggled for penetration on his serve in a worrying sign.

He dropped his opening two service games for the match and was rarely comfortable on the delivery against the extremely promising Draper, who is the first British man to make a major semi-final since Andy Murray at Roland Garros in 2017.

Pressed about the issue and whether it was linked to the hip problem that ruined his Wimbledon dreams, de Minaur said; “I wish I felt better. Let’s just put it that way. It’s tough. It’s a big opportunity. It’s a big chance.”

“Today wasn’t ideal. As I said, I was expecting to feel better. I was trending in the right direction. And today was a little bit the opposite of that,” he said.

“But ... I dealt with it after Wimbledon. I’ll deal with it after here and I’ll be back in no time, and hopefully sliding from side to side with not a thought in my head.

“I’d rather try and think about what I was doing six, seven weeks ago, and where I am now, and try to focus on that instead of dwelling on what just happened and me potentially having one of the bigger opportunities of my career and it just slipping away from my hands.

“So I’m going to stick with the positives that I’m proud of myself.”

Draper, who also received treatment for a thigh problem early in the second set, noted in the first set that an opponent who had beaten him in three prior outings was struggling and said it was “a challenge playing someone who was not 100 percent”.

“I definitely was aware that obviously Alex hasn’t played since Wimbledon. I know he had a tough injury,” he said.

“Whenever I’ve played Alex or watched him in the past, the guy moves incredibly well, and he’s so fast (and) relentless off the ground. (He) doesn’t miss balls.

“I definitely felt like towards the end of the first set, I noticed that ... I didn’t know he was maybe struggling with injury, but I definitely felt like maybe the way he was a bit subdued. That kind of made me realise, ‘Wow, he’s maybe got something slightly wrong.’”

THIRD SET

De Minaur kept trying to motivate himself between points but the lack pop in his groundstrokes and movement was evident once again as his hopes slipped away.

The Aussie conceded another service break - his fifth for the match - to fall behind 2-3 and was unable to clinch opportunities to retrieve the break in the following game.

Again, his movement was a factor and after a second opportunity went begging, he leant on his racquet for support for a period as sought to balance himself.

With Draper’s confidence mounting, he was able to rip through de Minaur’s following service game to secure an insurance break and bring up two opportunities to close out the match on his serve.

SECOND SET

The Australian’s woes continued in the second set and so, too, did the doubts about his fitness as his hopes of another big career breakthrough diminished.

At 1-all, 30-all, the No.10 seed reached for his left hamstring after dropping a point though, after he dropped serve once again, it was Draper who called for medical assistance.

The left-hander, whose progression up the ranks has been slowed by injuries, had heavy strapping applied to his right thigh at the following change of ends.

But it was de Minaur who looked diminished. He was not moving with his usual speed and unable to make the transition from defence to attack with any regularity at all.

In particular, he seemed to struggle when having to swiftly change direction to push back towards his backhand wing.

Despite this, when running in a straight line his speed remained, as evidenced by a couple of superb backhands with Draper serving with a 3-2 advantage.

A superb backhand passing shot on the run saved one break point but the Englishman, perhaps noting the Aussie seemed a step slower than usual, opted for regular drop shots.

De Minaur did bring up a break point in the game but Draper rose to the occasion with a superb forehand passing shot whipped across the front of him to extend his lead to 4-2.

The Australian’s speed in a straight line was still good and he was able to whip another magnificent backhand winner on the opening point of Draper’s service game at 4-all.

He was then able to draw level in the set when his rival began misfiring on the forehand in a sign that, even if a half-step slower, it was well worth persevering given the experience gulf.

But forced to defend, the nine-time ATP Tour title winner gave the break back to his rival at 5-all with three unforced errors in his service game.

Draper was able to close out the set when, on his third set point, he ripped a drive backhand volley to move to within one set of a semifinal appearance against either Jannik Sinner or Daniil Medvedev.

FIRST SET

Emerging English star Jack Draper has continued his hot form at the US Open with a dazzling start to his quarterfinal against Alex de Minaur at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York by clinching the first set 6-3.

In a concerning observation prior to the quarterfinal beginning, former English champion Tim Henman noted that he believed the Australian star de Minaur was struggling to reach up for his serve after watching him closely during his warm-up.

Whether there is anything untoward with the fitness of the Australian, who entered the tournament under an injury cloud after injuring his hop late in his fourth round win at Wimbledon in July, is unclear but de Minaur has certainly struggled for penetration when serving.

The world No.10 dropped his opening two service games and was forced to save four break points - which were set points as well - in his fourth service game for the set when trailing 2-5.

The Australian, who managed to secure the second service break Draper has lost for the tournament when trailing 0-2, had another chance late as he tried to stay alive in the set but was forced into error by his powerful rival.

In another worry, on the final point of the set the 25-year-old Australian paused for a moment after his right foot slipped on the hardcourt in what was an unusual movement.

Draper won 34 points compared to the Australian’s 24 for the set and struck six aces. The Aussie, who is regarded as one of the best returns of serve in the world, managed to win only one of the 14 points when Draper landed his first serve.

He hit five winners for the set but, in an indication that he was pressing, made 13 unforced errors. His younger rival, in comparison, has a ratio of about 50-50 winners to unforced errors.

Earlier on Wednesday in New York, former Roland Garros finalist Karolina Muchova progressed to the semifinals with a 6-4 6-4 win over Beatriz Haddad-Maia.

Meanwhile world number one Jannik Sinner sets his sights on the US Open semi-finals for the second time when he renews his rivalry with Daniil Medvedev, the only former champion left in the men’s tournament.

Women’s world number one Iga Swiatek, the champion in 2022, looks to take a step closer to a sixth Grand Slam title when she faces US hope Jessica Pegula.

Australian Open champion Sinner defeated Medvedev from two sets to love down to capture his maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.

The top seeded Italian is the favourite to add a second in New York on Sunday after the early exits of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

Medvedev captured his only Slam title at the 2021 US Open where he shattered Djokovic’s dream of completing a rare calendar Grand Slam. The Russian is also a two-time runner-up.

Both men dropped a set in their opening matches at this year’s tournament but have since sailed through.

They have met three times already this season with Sinner winning in Melbourne and Miami before Medvedev came out on top in a five-set quarter-final at Wimbledon.

“I will try to think more about Wimbledon than the Australian Open,” said Medvedev.

Four-time French Open champion Swiatek is seeking a second US Open after winning the 2022 title.

In that title run, the Pole defeated Pegula, also in the quarter-finals. Pegula is playing in her seventh Grand Slam quarter-final - and second in New York - but has never made it to the semi-finals.

She hasn’t dropped a set at the tournament and is on a 13-1 run on US hard courts this summer, successfully defending her Canada title before finishing runner-up to world number two Aryna Sabalenka in Cincinnati.

US Open schedule

From 2am AEST

Women’s Quarter-Final: (22) Beatriz Haddad Maia [BRA] vs Karolina Muchova [CZE]

Followed by

Men’s Quarter-Final: (25) Jack Draper [GBR] vs (10) Alex de Minaur [AUS]

From 9am AEST

Women’s Quarter-Final: (1) Iga Swiatek [POL] vs (6) Jessica Pegula [USA]

Followed by

Men’s Quarter-Final: (1) Jannik Sinner [ITA] vs (5) Daniil Medvedev [RUS]