Rising Star Draper Ends De Minaur's US Open Dream

In a dramatic turn of events, Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur's campaign at the US Open came to an abrupt end, as he succumbed to injury in a straight-sets loss to Britain's Jack Draper in the quarter-finals. Despite his best efforts, the world No. 10 was visibly hampered throughout the match, struggling with his serve and forehand as Draper delivered a masterclass performance to reach the semi-finals.

Injury Woes Derail De Minaur's US Open Hopes

Fitness Struggles Overshadow Promising Run

De Minaur's journey to the quarter-finals had been a promising one, as he navigated his way through the draw with relative ease. However, the Aussie's campaign was marred by injury concerns, with the player admitting that he was not 100% fit heading into the match against Draper. The issue, which stems from a hip injury sustained at Wimbledon, had limited De Minaur's preparation and match play leading up to the US Open.Despite the setback, the 23-year-old refused to make excuses, acknowledging Draper's stellar performance. "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," De Minaur said in his post-match press conference.

Draper Capitalizes on De Minaur's Struggles

Draper, the 25th seed, took full advantage of De Minaur's physical limitations, delivering a clinical display that saw him break the Aussie's serve six times and hit 40 winners throughout the match. The British player's powerful groundstrokes and precise court coverage proved too much for the struggling De Minaur, who was visibly hampered in his movements and struggled to find his usual rhythm."I played a solid match and I feel the best fitness-wise that I've felt in a long time," Draper said after the match. "That's where Alex has got me in the past. I also think he was struggling a little bit today with something and that helped me a little bit. But credit to Alex, he's an unbelievable player and fighter, and we're going to have many more battles to come."

De Minaur's Admirable Fighting Spirit

Despite the physical challenges, De Minaur refused to retire from the match, showcasing his unwavering fighting spirit. "It's not part of me, part of my DNA," he said. "I don't like it, if I'm honest. I'm always going to give my best. 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."The Aussie's determination and resilience in the face of adversity earned him widespread praise from fans and commentators alike, who acknowledged the heartbreak of seeing a player of his caliber forced to battle through injury. "Sad to see De Minaur not looking 100% on his backhand, but glad to see Draper getting through with no fuss," one fan tweeted.

Draper's Breakthrough Moment

Draper's victory over De Minaur marked a significant milestone in the young Briton's career, as he became the first man since 2020 to reach the final four at the US Open without dropping a set. The 21-year-old's reward is a first career grand slam semi-final appearance, where he will face either world No. 1 Jannik Sinner or defending champion Daniil Medvedev.Draper's impressive run has not gone unnoticed, with many praising the Briton's composure and ability to capitalize on his opponent's misfortunes. "He's now played two injured opponents, a terrible on the day Machac, a VDZ who didn't take his chances and Diaz Acosta," one commentator noted. "He'll be hoping for Sinner/Med to be an epic 5 setter."