Jack Draper shows off Andre Agassi’s Nike shoes after reaching first US Open semifinal
Jack Draper is bidding to become the first British US Open champion since the recently-retired Andy Murray in 2012.
Jack Draper showed off Andre Agassi's shoes at the US Open (via X)
25th seed Jack Draper reached his first Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open by defeating Alex de Minaur 6-3, 7-5, 6-2. This is the left-hander’s best performance at a Grand Slam, improving on his fourth-round appearance in New York last year.
After winning his quarterfinal, Draper showed off the Andre Agassi Nike Air Tech Challenge II sneakers during his post-match interview. These shoes, designed by Andre Agassi, were released globally on August 30.
Draper dominated the match with powerful serves and strong groundstrokes, securing a two-hour, seven-minute victory. His win sets up a semifinal clash with either World No. 1 Jannik Sinner or fifth seed Daniil Medvedev.
De Minaur, playing his first event since Wimbledon due to a hip injury, seemed to aggravate it during the first set. Draper also had some discomfort and needed treatment for his upper leg early in the second set. However, it did not stop the British player from winning the match.
Jack Draper’s dream US Open run continues
British No. 1 Jack Draper entered the US Open facing criticism. He had won a match against Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Cincinnati Open in a controversial way. During the match, he hit the ball onto his own side, but the umpire gave him the point, which was the match point.
Despite the criticism, Draper has been playing his best tennis at the US Open. He has won all five matches without losing a set. The 22-year-old is only the fourth British player to reach the men’s singles semi-final at the US Open in the Open Era, joining Greg Rusedski, Tim Henman, and Andy Murray.
For the 2024 season, Draper has a 30-17 record. He reached the final in Adelaide earlier this year and won his first ATP title in Stuttgart after defeating Matteo Berrettini. Before the US Open, Draper made it to the quarter-finals in Cincinnati, where he upset Stefanos Tsitsipas. Draper’s performance in New York has guaranteed him a new career-high ranking. He has already moved up five spots to No. 20 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. If he reaches the final, he could go as high as No. 14.
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Fahad Hamid
(270 Articles Published)