New York | Sinner halts Draper’s excellent run

Jannik Sinner has reached the final of the US Open but had to undergo a gruelling semi-final to progress thanks to some fierce resistance from his friend Jack Draper.

He’s made his breakthrough this week a little bit, playing some amazing tennis, serving very well. Physically he has improved a lot.
So, he’s going to be very tough to beat in the future, for sure. I’m happy for him. Jannik Sinner

Unfortunately for the British No.1, his fighting efforts weren’t enough to topple the World No.1, who took just over three hours to secure his place in a grand slam final for the second time this year, 7-5 7-6(3) 6-2.

But while Sinner has a chance to pocket his second grand slam title of his career and this season, following his success in Melbourne, it is Draper who leaves New York with the plaudits ringing in his ears having won over the New York crowd with the spirit he displayed despite struggling with sickness during the match (he vomited on court on four occasions!) and the inevitable debilitation that it brought on.

In comments he made on Sky Sports Draper, admitted anxiety had played a role in him feeling unwell on court.

“I think obviously it’s a big occasion for me. I definitely felt, even though I generally feel pretty relaxed, — I definitely felt more excited today, a few more nerves around.

“I’m definitely someone who is, I think, quite an anxious human being. I think when you add all that together, sometimes I do feel a bit nausea on court, and I do feel a little bit sick when it gets tough.

“I didn’t have any problems before the match, but it obviously just built up.”

He continued: “Being sick doesn’t help. You just feel worse and worse, because you can’t put anything in your body.

“When you’re playing long matches, you need to be able to drink and to eat things and give your body the supplies it needs to keep on going.

“But obviously when you’re feeling sick and stuff like that, you can’t put anything inside your body, because it just comes straight out, and it’s the worst feeling ever.

“You can’t move around the court when that happens.

“So no, it’s a horrible feeling, and you feel more dizzy and more sick, the more you are.”

Both players received treatment at the same time during the second set, Draper from the doctor for his illness while Sinner needed attention to his left wrist from the trainer, having taken a bad fall onto his left hand during a point he managed to win.

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

After his victory, Sinner was sympathetic: “Obviously it’s tough for Jack, for sure.

“Semis, they are a bit different to play, and in grand slams, finals are a bit different. You feel a lot of tension. It’s a bit different.

“But it was nice to share the court with him. Hopefully we have some more battles in the future, which I’m quite sure about that.

“He’s made his breakthrough this week a little bit, playing some amazing tennis, serving very well. Physically he has improved a lot.

“So, he’s going to be very tough to beat in the future, for sure. I’m happy for him.”

Draper hadn’t dropped a set to reach the semis and while the pair toughed it out following a nervy start by both, Sinner was the first to break for 4-3 but Draper immediately struck back to get back on serve.

Draper then saved two more break points only to drop serve aided by a double fault, to give Sinner the chance to serve out, which he did to love.

The Brit was pushed to the limit of his physical abilities at the start of the second but was still able to find answers to keep Sinner at bay, but his serve was starting to wane.

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Jannik Sinner takes a tumble

Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

t was then that his vomiting got the better of him and Sinner fell but Draper hung on to force a tiebreak in which Sinner took immediate control racing into a 4-0 lead and, while Draper made a brief recovery, it wasn’t long before he found himself two sets down.

By now Draper was visibly fatigued but he continued to press only for Sinner to crucially break for 4-2 and set his sights on the finishing line.

He eventually wrapped up the match with a backhand on his first match point to secure, as title favourite, his place in the final.

“Jack and I know each other very well, and we are good friends off the court,” Sinner said after the match.

“It was a very physical match, and I just tried to stay there mentally. He’s so tough to beat and it was a very special occasion. The support has been amazing, and I’m just happy to be in the final.”

When quizzed on facing an American, Taylor Fritz or Frances Tiafoe, in Sunday’s final, he replied: “Whoever it is, it is going to be a very tough challenge for me, but I’m just looking forward to it.

“I’m having a very positive season; finals are very special days. I just try to keep pushing, and we will see what I can do on Sunday.”

And on his current performances, no one will be betting against him.