New York | Draper eases through

Jack Draper is in bullish mood after ensuring both remaining Brits in the men’s singles reached the third round of the US Open, declaring: “If I keep on improving, there is no reason I can’t do well here.”

I felt a bit flat at the start. Sometimes you don’t wake up feeling amazing, so I had to get myself going and I felt my serve got me out of trouble a lot Jack DRaper

The British No.1 put in a dominant display to overcome Argentina’s Facundo Diaz Acosta after compatriot Dan Evans beat Acosta’s compatriot Mariano Navone.

And the draw appears to be opening up for the 25th seed with the shock exit of Carlos Alcaraz, who was favoured to be his next opponent.

Draper will face unseeded Dutchman Botic van de Zandschlup who stunned Spaniard Alcaraz, the 2022 champion going for his third straight Slam title.

If Draper defeats world-ranked 74, Van de Zandschulp, he will meet either Belgian David Goffin or Czech Tomas Machac, ranked 78th and 39th, for a quarter-final spot.

Draper, dressed in a fuscia-coloured kit, bloomed against Acosta.

He broke the world No.64 in just the third game and, after surviving three break points, secured the opening set and, with ruthless efficiency, hitting 29 winners, he sealed a 6-4 6-2 6-2 victory in two hours and 5-minutes.

The 22-year-old’s forehand worked like a dream and his opponent had few answers.

The left-hander, who made the fourth-round last year, said on Sky: “Hopefully I can build on the performance. This is the Grand Slam where I have had my best results so far – third round, fourth round and now third round again – so there is something about the conditions that suit my game. If I keep on improving, there is no reason I can’t do well here.

“I felt my tennis was in a good place. Got my serve going. I didn’t know what to expect as I didn’t get enough court times the other day (when opponent Zhang Zhizhen retired). A non-match.

“I felt a bit flat at the start. Sometimes you don’t wake up feeling amazing, so I had to get myself going and I felt my serve got me out of trouble a lot.”

It seems the ‘cheating ‘storm, when he was accused of dishonesty on match point against Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime at the recent Cincinnati Open, has subsided.

Drape, who secured his first ATP title in Stuttgart in June, just might prove himself the successor to Andy Murray in flying the Union flag. Whether it is at Flushing Meadows this year we will have to wait and see.

Tim Henman, the former British No.1 who, like Draper, attended Reed’s School in Cobham, said: “I was impressed by his overall level. There were very few dips. His serving, hitting his spots, winning first-serve points.

“If you were being critical you would like to see the first-serve percentage a little higher, it was around 50-55 but from the back of his court, his footwork and physicality [stood out].

“He looked to attack both wings and he wasn’t afraid to serve and volley. It was a very impressive performance.”