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Why Jack Draper's junior rivals knew he was destined for stardom?

  • Posted: Sep 06, 2024

It was 6:41 p.m. on Wednesday evening when Jack Draper sat in the media garden at the US Open for an interview with Sky Sports. The sun was setting in the background above the tournament’s main row of practice courts. But the star that is Draper was rising and continues to soar higher than ever in New York.

Tim Henman, the former British No. 1 and a six-time major semi-finalist, sat next to the 22-year-old, who had just earned his first trip to the last four of a Grand Slam tournament. Henman handed Draper a bucket hat covered with the British flag. It was not the passing of the torch — that went from Henman to former World No. 1 Andy Murray — but it was a fitting moment between two of the best British tennis players in recent memory.

When Draper finished the interview, he stood up and was greeted by another legend, John McEnroe, who was excited to see his fellow lefty. The two posed for a picture. When Draper made it back to the players’ lounge, he snapped a photo with another all-time great, Andre Agassi. Draper was wearing sneakers made famous by the American.

One year ago, Draper broke through in New York and reached the fourth round at a major for the first time. At the time, he was World No. 123 after struggling with injury.

Now the Briton is through to the semi-finals of a Slam without losing a set and is up to No. 20 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. Based on the love he is receiving from many in the tennis world and the efforts he has been producing on court, this seems to be just the beginning.

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Draper’s talent has been clear since he was a teen. The pinnacle of his junior career came in July 2018, when he showed both his ability and grit.

In a span of two weeks, he played a top junior from the time, Tristan Boyer, who is less than a year older than Draper.

“I was Top 10 in juniors going into Wimbledon. I go to [a tournament before that at] Roehampton, I see Draper first round and British guys are always tough on grass,” Boyer said. “But I was like, ‘Alright this guy hasn’t really been around, I’m Top 10’. I was pretty confident, and he tuned me up one and two at Roehampton. I didn’t have a chance.” 

The American recalls Draper playing big and serving well, both trademarks of his game today. A week later, Boyer had another opportunity to face Draper at Wimbledon, where all the pressure was on the home favourite.

It was not an easy match, and Boyer remembers Draper standing during changeovers in the third set due to cramp, but the lefty found a way through 6-7(1), 6-3, 7-5.

“It was a tight match. He just played better than me in the third,” Boyer recalled. “I think that I was going [with] almost everything to his backhand and now his backhand is like a rock. It’s ridiculous. I was watching a little bit of him versus [Tomas] Machac [at the US Open] and he was so solid with his backhand. It’s really, really good.”

After beating Lorenzo Musetti in the next round in three sets, Draper played the most memorable match of his junior career. The lefty needed four hours and 23 minutes to oust Colombian Nicolas Mejia 7-6(5), 6-7(6), 19-17 in the semi-finals.

“I think that that match for me, it’s one of the most [memorable] matches of my life,” Mejia said. “First of all, it was the farthest stage I got into into a Slam in the juniors. It was also against a British player in Wimbledon. We were playing unbelievable tennis. It was a crazy, big level in that match.

“I think that’s maybe one of the craziest junior matches in a Grand Slam. It went so much into the distance. It was in the semi-finals, we just had a huge battle. And it’s a very cool thing that I was able to be part of.”

<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/06/13/36/draper-mejia-wimbledon.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Jack Draper and Nicolas Mejia” />
Jack Draper and Nicolas Mejia after their Wimbledon classic. Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images.
Draper lost the final to Chun-Hsin Tseng, but the tournament was proof that the Briton is willing to scratch and claw, no matter how long it takes.

Mejia faced Draper several times and they even played doubles together as they embarked on their professional careers, spending time together everywhere from Mexico to Italy. Mejia said: “I think he’s an amazing person, and I’m really happy to have a nice friendship with him.”

What stands out the most is not necessarily his game, but his competitiveness and effort off the court.

“I think one of the biggest things that he has is the way he competes and he handles all the difficult moments in matches,” Mejia said. “He has a lot of passion. He does everything around tennis with a lot of passion, not only on court, but off court. That’s something that you know he does really well, and the results are reflecting given the professionalism that he has in his day-to day life.”

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As Draper climbed the PIF ATP Rankings, he showed plenty of flashes of his potential. The lefty earned his first ATP Tour main draw win at The Queen’s Club in 2021 against the man he will face in the US Open semi-finals, Jannik Sinner.

The game has been there, but over the past few years he has struggled with various injuries, including his shoulder last year. But despite those setbacks, the Briton’s determination helped him persevere through tough times in which it was difficult to envision him finding his way through.

“I’ve been working so hard for such a long time now. I’d say last year was a real turning point for me, when I had my injury setbacks and taking a lot of time off over the summer because of my shoulder injury,” Draper said. “I had to sort of watch all these young, amazing players winning amazing tournaments. I’m playing on the biggest stage in the world and I felt like I just wasn’t doing enough to get to that point myself.

“This is not kind of like an overnight thing for me. I’ve believed for a long time that I’ve been putting in the work and doing the right things, and I knew that my time would come. I didn’t know when it would be, but hopefully from here I can do a lot of amazing things. I’m very proud of myself.”

Before matches at the US Open Draper has been visiting his court earlier in the day to take a look before it is full of fans. This has included Arthur Ashe Stadium, onto which he will walk Friday afternoon for the biggest match of his life.

When players walk onto the court they immediately see a plaque with a quote from Billie Jean King, after whom the venue his named. “Pressure is a privilege”.

Draper is embracing that, and needs to continue doing so to capture the ultimate Grand Slam glory.

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Taylor Fritz: Inside the American's rise & competitive spirit

  • Posted: Sep 06, 2024

Taylor Fritz broke new ground on Tuesday when he defeated Alexander Zverev for the second consecutive major to reach the semi-finals of the US Open. The American had made four previous Grand Slam quarter-finals, but never advanced to the last four. That changed with a splendid performance against the two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion.

But according to Wolfgang Oswald, Fritz’s longtime physiotherapist, the 26-year-old is not satisfied just to move one step further.

“Before, maybe there was a sense of relief. ‘I made the second week, I made a quarter-final’,” Oswald said. “He actually said it in a car the other day. He was like, ‘I’m not celebrating, because it’s not over. I’m not happy’.”

Fritz is fully focused on continuing his biggest run yet and trying to become the first American man to win a major singles title since Andy Roddick 21 years ago at Flushing Meadows.

ATPTour.com spoke to Oswald, who knows Fritz as well as anyone, to gain insight into the 2022 Nitto ATP Finals competitor’s growth and mindset. The Australian first noticed Fritz when he played Tommy Paul in the 2015 Roland Garros boys’ singles final, won by Paul. He then continued to follow the American as he progressed to the ATP Challenger Tour, including a final-set tie-break Fritz played against Dustin Brown.

At the time, Oswald was a tennis fan working out of Arizona. He got into tennis because Brett Waltz, the current physiotherapist for Frances Tiafoe, Fritz’s US Open semi-final opponent, thought it would be good to get a physio with a tennis background like Oswald on Tour.

One day, the Aussie received a call asking if he could be in Chengdu by Wednesday. Despite a fully booked schedule, Oswald manouevred things around and made the trip to work with Fritz later that week.

“I’d never met Taylor. I’d never met David Nainkin, his coach [at the time]… I rocked up at breakfast, and I met Taylor, and we went straight to the tournament, and he was in qualifying, and he qualified. He made the quarter-finals and that’s how it started,” Oswald said. “I’d never even talked to him on the phone. I just rocked up in Chengdu, China. It was supposed to be a three-week trip.”

It turned into a five-week trip as Fritz was pushing to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. Oswald even competed in an ATP Challenger Tour event in Vietnam during the trip.

“Taylor’s pretty reserved if he doesn’t know you. So I remember he was on his phone. He said, ‘Hi’. I talked with his coach quite a bit in the car ride over, because his coach and I had a lot of mutual friends. The tennis world is very small,” Oswald said. “There wasn’t a lot of communication, I would say, because Taylor’s pretty reserved and pretty quiet. But I remember he had his routine, I had a routine and we grew together.”

After a whirlwind start to the trip due to how quickly it came about, the player-physio duo familiarised themselves with each other better at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Ningbo, where Oswald needed to take on a few more roles for the week. They naturally spent more time together.

“We went out to the malls and did some shopping, went out to dinner,” Oswald said. “And then we started communicating a lot more, and then we gelled pretty good.”

It did not take long for Oswald to learn about Fritz’s competitive spirit.

“Pretty much the first match I was with him, qualifying in Chengdu, which is me not knowing him that way, because I didn’t get that from watching him on TV, necessarily,” Oswald said. “[I saw] how laid back he is, and then flip the switch and fight tooth and nail to the end and [how he] tries to figure out how to win… Pretty much right from the get-go, you can see he was a competitor.”

<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/04/20/08/fritz-us-open-2024-russell-reaction.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Taylor Fritz” />
Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images
According to the physiotherapist, Fritz’s competitive nature came out in many settings, including the arcades and batting cages in Tokyo their second week together. It was not just on the tennis court.

“Video games, ultra competitive. We’re playing cards, ultra competitive. Chess, ultra competitive. Any type of social game, ultra competitive,” Oswald said. “If we’re doing drills on the court, [even] if there’s nothing riding on it. ‘Hey you’ve got to do assault bike sprints or push ups’, then he’ll be ultra competitive. So he’s very competitive at almost anything that he does.

“I’ve seen him get pretty heated early on. Actually, he was really into FIFA. Now he plays other games, but he was video gaming FIFA, and I remember he beat a professional FIFA player that we thought was professional based on his user name. I remember he was ultra competitive, maybe even breaking a couple of controllers on his video game console, because he was that competitive, truly heated when he would lose.”

But Fritz is not constantly in that mode. In fact, he is more reserved than many of his colleagues off the court.

“He’s quiet and reserved and he’s very mellow other than [when he is on] the court. His heart rate doesn’t even go up one beat per minute if we’re late for a flight. He is so cool, calm and collected,” Oswald said. “And then in a match, if you watch him play, he fights tooth and nail to the end. But I think being calm most of the time helps the mental energy when you have to turn it on. You can turn it on. If you’re always amped up, and then have to amp up more for a match, sometimes that can be very mentally fatiguing.”

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That mentality has helped Fritz climb as high as No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings and check off various stepping stones in his journey. The World No. 12 has won at least one title at the ATP 250s, ATP 500s and the ATP Masters 1000s.

“Having been quarters of Slams and being close to a semi several times in five sets, this is the next stepping stone. Now he’s been in that situation, he knows how to handle it,” Oswald said. “One of the themes the last couple of days has not been, ‘Hey, we’re happy we’re in the semis, let’s celebrate’. The job’s not done, let’s go for the whole thing.”

Oswald has watched his charge grow in several ways over the past seven years, from physical improvements to maturity and more. And now, Fritz has used that to move to within a match of becoming the first male American singles finalist at a major since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009. Only longtime friend Tiafoe stands in his way.

“Frances and him have pushed each other. His training volume went up when Frances hit 30 something in the world the first time, and then Fritz overtook him, and then Frances got better,” Oswald said. “They’ve continually pushed each other. Even though they’re good buddies, neither one wants to lose the other guy, I can tell you that.”

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‘Overloaded with happiness’, Purcell & Thompson reach US Open doubles final

  • Posted: Sep 06, 2024

Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson charged into their second consecutive Grand Slam doubles final after edging Americans Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow 6-4, 7-6(4) in the US Open semi-finals Thursday night.

The Australians will now get a shot at redemption after squandering three championship points in the Wimbledon final in July. In Saturday’s final they will play the winner of tonight’s second semi-final between Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic and Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz.

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In a match of fine margins, two missed forehand volleys by Lammons and Withrow and a bold second-serve ace on match point by Purcell is what separated the teams in the tense tie-break.

“What makes it so special is that we’re such good mates. Every time we get a win I just feel overloaded with happiness,” Purcell said. “It’s not just the achievement, it’s who you do it with. We made it a goal this year to win a Grand Slam, so to be one match away again is special.”

“Back-to-back finals is incredible,” said Thompson, who reached the fourth round of the singles at Flushing Meadows. “This is my first full year of doubles and to go from the Wimbledon final to the US Open final… hopefully we can go one better here.”

Purcell and Thompson improved to 36-6 on the year. Purcell is chasing his second major doubles title after partnering Matthew Ebden to the 2022 Wimbledon title. Thompson is seeking his maiden Grand Slam crown.

Purcell and Thompson have risen to fifth place in the PIF ATP Doubles Teams Rankings and will go to third with a title. Lammons and Withrow are also in the running to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals after climbing to eighth in the Race by reaching their first Grand Slam semi-final.

 

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Charlie Robertson: Once a future farmer, Murray mentee making his mark at US Open

  • Posted: Sep 05, 2024

Briton Jack Draper has stepped into the sun at the US Open, advancing to his maiden major semi-final in the first Grand Slam tournament since former World No. 1 Andy Murray’s retirement. But Draper is not the only Briton making his mark in New York.

Seventeen-year-old Charlie Robertson is into the semi-finals of the boys’ singles event and two victories from becoming the first British boys’ singles champion at Flushing Meadows since Oliver Golding in 2011.

“It’s obviously more impressive from Jack getting to the semi-finals of the men’s,” Robertson told ATPTour.com. “But I’m so happy for him. I also hit with him at Queen’s and he looked like he’s been working so hard and he’s a really nice guy, also. It’s just cool to see another Brit that’s doing so well.

“I think it’s just great for everyone in British tennis. For me when people are doing well, you go like, ‘I want to get to what he’s like as well’. It’s going to be massive for British tennis in a positive way.”

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Robertson grew up on a farm in the north of Scotland. His older sister, Kirsty (23), and older brother, Harry (21), were in a tennis class. Charlie was too young to participate, but from the age of four he would hit against the wall. His efforts were impressive enough to be placed in the class despite his age and he immediately loved it. But the Scot also enjoyed time at home.

“Out of my brother and my sister, I was actually into the farm and the animals,” Robertson said. “I used to look after the sheep, that’s what I got. I honestly loved it. I think my dad thought I was going to be a farmer, but I just enjoyed sports too much and tennis I loved, so I decided to go for that.”

As Robertson improved, it was clear he had to move to the GB National Tennis Academy at the University of Stirling for the best training.

“We had to sell our farm to afford somewhere to stay in Stirling, a home,” Robertson said. “From there I kept playing and it was great.”

The No. 23 player in the ITF Junior Rankings, Robertson is already one of the best juniors in the world. Unsurprisingly, Murray, who was already a Top 20 player in the PIF ATP Rankings when Robertson was born, was his role model.

“Seeing him, a Scotsman do it is so special for me obviously. Being from Scotland, it’s unbelievable seeing a Scottish guy doing so well. So for me, it was always Andy,” Robertson said. “Andy’s always been my inspiration since I was little and to know that someone can do it from where you’ve trained and where he’s trained and grown up, it’s a massive inspiration.”

They have grown closer this year. Andy’s older brother, Jamie Murray, is the tournament director at the cinch Championships and invited Robertson to serve as a hitting partner.

“It was quite special. Me and Andy built our relationship there, so that was very special and I also got the time to hit with Alcaraz, which I thought was really nice,” Robertson said. “It was only once, but he actually requested me again to hit with him, which was quite cool, but I actually had to go play a tournament myself!”

Murray even had Robertson as a training partner ahead of the Olympics, the final tournament of his career. Andy’s mother, Judy Murray, wrote: “It’s 20 years since Andy won the US Open junior event in 2004 and it’s great to see him investing in the next generation. No better and quicker way to learn than working alongside someone who has been there and done it.”

”I can’t thank the Murray family enough. They’ve given me so much support and I can’t thank them enough for backing me and backing a Scot. It’s really special,” Robertson said. “For what he’s already done for tennis and how he’s giving back also now that it’s done, it’s amazing for me.”

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Errani & Vavassori win US Open mixed doubles title: 'Dream come true'

  • Posted: Sep 05, 2024

Italians Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori capped a dream run to the mixed doubles title Thursday at the US Open, where the third seeds overcame home hopes Taylor Townsend and Donald Young 7-6(0), 7-5 in the championship match.

Errani and Vavassori held their nerve in pressure moments, including a trade of breaks at the tail end of the opening set that forced a tie-break, during which they did not drop a point. When Townsend and Young served to stay in the match at 5-6 in the second set, Errani and Vavassori jumped to 0/40 lead and converted their third match point.

The 35-year-old Young, who reached a career-high No. 38 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2012, was competing in his final professional tournament.

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Errani and Vavassori survived a difficult path en route to becoming the third Italian duo to win a major title in mixed doubles and first since 1986. They began the tournament by fending off a match point against Robert Galloway and Shelby Rogers. In the quarter-finals, Errani and Vavassori downed Hsieh Su-Wei and Jan Zielinski, who were chasing their third major mixed doubles title of the year (Australian Open, Wimbledon).

“It’s very special. It’s a dream come true for me,” Vavassori said. “Being with Sara, an amazing person, an amazing player. I always watch her during her career. It was amazing to play with her at Wimbledon and the Olympics this year… We did it. We won a Grand Slam! It’s amazing.”

Vavassori, No. 9 in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings, partnered Simone Bolelli to reach the Australian Open and Roland Garros final this season. The Flushing Meadows mixed doubles title marks his first major crown.

Errani last month teamed Jasmine Paolini to claim the Paris Olympics gold medal in women’s doubles. A five-time major champion in women’s doubles, Errani was competing in her first mixed doubles major final.

“This is so special for me. I’ve never played mixed and to share this moment with Andrea is so special,” Errani said. “I’m so happy. This is incredible for me. This year, it’s amazing.”

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What is the US Open semi-final schedule?

  • Posted: Sep 05, 2024

Top seed Jannik Sinner and 25th seed Jack Draper will meet in the first US Open semi-final on Friday afternoon before 12th seed Taylor Fritz faces 20th seed Frances Tiafoe in an all-American evening battle.

Sinner, who defeated 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev on Wednesday evening to make the last four, will try to reach his second major final of the season not before 3 p.m. EDT/9 p.m. CEST. Also a semi-finalist at Roland Garros and a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon, he won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

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It will be the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings’ second Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting against Draper, a first-rime major semi-finalist. The Briton defeated Sinner three years ago at The Queen’s Club in two tie-breaks for his first ATP Tour main-draw win.

Fritz or Tiafoe, who will play not before 7 p.m. EDT/1 a.m. CEST will become the first American man to reach a Slam final since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009. This will be the first all-American men’s singles semi-final at a Grand Slam tournament since Andre Agassi defeated Robby Ginepri at the 2005 US Open.

Fritz leads Tiafoe 6-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Their most recent meeting came last year in Acapulco (Fritz won 6-3, 6-4) and they have met in a major just once, at the 2022 Australian Open (Fritz won 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(5).

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