Jack Draper 'proud' of 2024 US Open performance after beating ...

Published 03/09/2024 at 16:24 GMT

Jack Draper said he was “proud” of his performance after beating Tomas Machac to advance to the quarter-finals of the US Open.

The 22-year-old Brit produced an impressive performance, beating his Czech opponent in straight sets to become the first UK player to reach the last eight at Flushing Meadows since Andy Murray in 2016.

And he claimed after the match that he is growing in confidence and in good shape as he looks to make his mark on one of the biggest stages.

“It was a good match, I did the basics well,” Draper told Eurosport.

“Tomas, I know, is a really solid player and has had some amazing wins. I watched him throughout the start of the tournament and he’s played incredible tennis, so I knew I had to be on my A game from the start.

“I had to focus and knew it might be a really long match. I was proud of my performance and it went pretty fast.”

Sinner & Swiatek outlast their rivals to reach quarters at US

Draper has yet to drop a set at the US Open so far and there is quiet optimism that he could go even further in the tournament after the early exits of favourites Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

“I feel the confidence growing - it helps winning matches, that’s huge,” Draper said. “Often on the tour the level’s so high you’re not getting to play so many matches.

“I’ve been in good form and my confidence is growing through how I’m dealing with situations - coming through the last 16, which I didn’t do last year, and being at Grand Slams is a huge thing for me.”

Crucially, Draper has also avoided injuries over the last year. His improved fitness helped him to a first ever ATP title in Stuttgart and an eye-catching victory over Alcaraz at Queen’s.

“A big part of it for me is my health, staying on court,” he added. “I’ve worked really hard physically in the last year and a half to get my body where it needs to be. 

“We still have a lot of ups and downs but one of our main goals was to get to the point where the consistency of my practice is very high. It’s all coming together.”

Asked whether he had been flooded by congratulatory messages following the win, Draper said: “I try not to go on my phone too much. I don’t think I’ve got a message from Andy [Murray] yet. 

“In tennis we get a lot of messages when we do well and it’s hard to reply all the time but my circle’s pretty small honestly. A lot of people want me to do well and I’m very appreciative of the support.”

Draper will now play 10th seed Alex de Minaur in the quarter-final, with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner now the clear favourite to win a first ever US Open.

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