(New York) British Jack Draper, 25e world champion, qualified for his first Grand Slam quarter-final at the US Open on Monday by beating Czech Tomas Machac (39).e) 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.
“The last few times we played against each other [3 victoires en 3 matchs pour Machac, NDLR]”We had a lot of battles. Today I played at a decent level and he wasn’t at his best. But I had to stay focused on every point,” Draper said.
Aged 22, he will face Australian Alex De Minaur (10) on Wednesday for a place in the last four.e) or his compatriot Jordan Thompson (32e).
Draper left no chance for Machac, just as he had left none for his other opponents at Flushing Meadows: in four matches to reach the quarter-finals, the Briton only conceded once, against the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the third round.
Draper is the first Briton to reach the quarter-finals of the men’s draw in New York since Andy Murray in 2016.
Last year at the US Open, he reached the round of 16, which was his best Grand Slam result to date.
“It’s amazing to play on Louis Armstrong Court. Last year, that’s where I lost at this stage of the tournament, so it’s good to come back and get a better result this year,” Draper said.