Jannik Sinner, the world number one, advanced to his first US Open final on Saturday (September 7, 2024), defeating Jack Draper in straight sets in the first men’s singles semi-final at Flushing Meadows. The Italian fought hard and won 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.
Sinner ground down Draper, who was hurting physically as the second set came to a finish. The top seed hit 42 winners and had his own scare in the second set when he hurt his left wrist while using it to cushion his fall behind the baseline.
Sinner ground down Draper, who was hurting physically as the second set came to a finish. The top seed hit 42 winners and had his own scare in the second set when he hurt his left wrist while using it to cushion his fall behind the baseline.
“Jack and I know each other super well. We are friends off the court. It was a really physical fight, as we can see, and I just tried to stay focused mentally,” Sinner said. “He is super tough to beat, and this is a very special moment here. I’m happy to be in the final here.
The present number uno player of the season has a pretty good record in Majors: a run to at least the quarterfinals in all four Grand Slams. In January, he won his first Grand Slam title this season at the Australian Open and joined the elite group of just six men in history to have won 22 or more majors in a single season.
Novak Djokovic-8, Roger Federer-6, Rafael Nadal-6 and Andy Murray-2 had achieved it previously. “I’m just glad to be in the final. “Whoever it is, it will be a very difficult challenge for me,” Sinner stated. “I’m looking forward to it. Finals are extremely special days. Every Sunday you play shows, you do an incredible job, so I’m going to keep trying and see what I can do.”
Sinner’s three-hour, four-minute victory over Draper gave him his tenth consecutive win, following his second ATP Masters 1000 title of the season in Cincinnati. The Italian, who has already won titles in Rotterdam, Miami, and Halle, was the first to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin last month.
On the other side of the net, Draper, 22, vomited three times in the second set as he struggled with the heat and humidity, leaving his shirt saturated in sweat. “Obviously, it was really humid today. “It hasn’t been a full week yet,” the Brit told reporters after the contest.
“I believe it was a pretty physical contest. Obviously, this is why Jannik is the world’s best player, because the intensity differs while playing the top players. It’s a step up. “I think it’s a significant deal for me. I definitely felt more eager today, despite the fact that I’m usually very relaxed. I believe I am a really anxious person.
“When you put all of those together, I get a little sickness on the court, and I get a little ill when things get rough. “Yeah, I didn’t have any problems before the match, but they obviously built up,” he said.
Jannik Sinner emerged victorious in one of the most physical and emotive US Open semifinals against young star Jack Draper. The contest at Arthur Ashe Stadium was a showcase of muscle, stamina, and minds as both the young, upcoming stars fought not only against each other but the steamy late-summer temperatures of New York. The victory indeed showed Sinner’s maturity and versatility on the court, being a watershed in his career as he heads into his first US Open final.
Prolific Italian sensation Jannik Sinner has just taken the tennis world by storm, blasting his way into the tennis limelight. With a powerful baseline game, precise backhand, and outstanding court coverage, Sinner has quickly become one of the most feared young players on the ATP Tour.
His calm manner and tactical intelligence also belie his years, with many long regarding him as a future Grand Slam champion.
Another British Headline, 21-year-old Jack Draper, has been in the news for his explosive game and physical abilities, much like his other compatriot. An added degree of complication given to opponents is that Draper is a lefty, but his big serve and forehand make him formidable. Draper, like Sinner, has worked his way up the rankings and shown the ability to challenge the sport’s established top.
Both players were hoping to make their first Grand Slam final appearance, and the stakes were high. Sinner, rated sixth in the world, had a tiny advantage in experience, while Draper, ranked 32nd, was hoping to build on his breakthrough performance.
It was always going to be a fight, and that is exactly what happened in conditions that were not exactly easy-the high heat factor with a lot of humidity that made things more physically demanding for the players. The first set saw both Sinner and Draper in a neck-and-neck fight, each showing his strengths: the unyielding baseline aggression from Sinner and hard hitting and court mobility on behalf of Draper.
The first set was a share of heavy groundstrokes between them, long rallies that really tested their endurance and mental strength. Sinner came out on top of the first set, 7-6, in a tight tiebreak-a good example of how he came into prominence under pressure. Draper refused to back down and gave it all it took to push Sinner to his limits while showing his shot-making ability.
In the second set, Draper made a strong comeback. He broke Sinner’s serve early on, using his aggressive return game to control the points and keep Sinner on the defensive. Draper’s method was to drag Sinner wide with angled shots before finishing with poise. Draper took the second set 6-4 to level the match and suggest he would be a proper test of Sinner’s willpower.
The physicality of the contest really told in the third set. Both athletes displayed indications of fatigue, but Draper seemed to struggle more overtly with cramps and exhaustion. Sinner saw an opportunity and began to expand rallies and target Draper’s movement, forcing the Brit to cover more area and burn valuable energy.
Despite Draper’s best efforts to stay in the competition, Sinner’s constant pressure proved too much. Sinner won the third set 6-3, capitalizing on Draper’s declining mobility and the accumulating unforced errors that had crept into the Brit’s game.
Sinner demonstrated his mental and physical endurance in the fourth set, broke Draper early and then consolidating his lead with strong and powerful serving. Despite plainly laboring, Draper fought on, saving many match points and refusing to give Sinner an easy conclusion. Sinner’s better conditioning and tactical tweaks eventually paid off, as he won the set 6-4 and advanced to the final.
Several critical events defined the match and demonstrated Sinner’s road to victory. Sinner’s victory in the first set tiebreak was a turning point. The tiebreak was pretty hotly contested as Sinner and Draper alternated in consistently winning the most blistering points and establishing who was boss on the baseline. Sinner’s poise under pressure, especially on the set points of Draper, allowed him to inch his way further and set the tone of the match.
The third set indeed marked another turning point as Draper started to show clear signs of physical pain. Feeling his opponent’s distress, Sinner intelligently adjusted his strategy to capitalize on this factor. Instead of going for outright winners, Sinner looked to make Draper run, prolong the rallies, and hit deep with quality. This further drained Draper and decreased the risk for Sinner of committing unforced errors.
Sinner’s serve also was a tool that was particularly handy in the fourth set when Draper grew eager for a comeback. The Italian’s ability to hit under pressure both aces and well-placed serves that ended up in easy points was very important in keeping Draper at bay.
Draper, though, always seemed to struggle with his serve, hitting double faults at crucial junctures that turned the momentum to Sinner, but it was never a slugfest. Both players were gracious in defeat and victory, respectively, and recognized how tough each was physically.
Sinner commended Draper’s persistence and play quality during his on-court interview, emphasizing the hardship of facing such a talented opponent. “Jack is an incredible player, and today was a real battle,” Sinner stated. “We both pushed each other to the limit, and I’m really proud of how I handled the tough moments.”
Although disappointed, loser Draper was gracious. He admitted the challenge of the conditions and gave credit where it was due, that being to the fortitude of Sinner. “Jannik played an incredible match,” said the addition by Draper. “I gave it my all but this was not my day.
I learnt a lot from this experience and I’ll use it to get back stronger.”
Both tennis players mentioned the preparation of the physique and recovery. Draper said that knowing how to handle the physical cost from playing long is one area where he is going to have to continue improving, while Sinner-who had some similar problems during his career-talked about the progress he has made in conditioning and how it contributed to his success.
But Sinner’s win over Draper came with added poignancy: the changing of the guard, a new generation of superstars ready to take on the old order. He and Draper are representative of a sea change in the game – one of possession of power, speed and knowing how to use it – that is redefining modern tennis.
The fact that Sinner has reached the US Open final proves his hard work and brings him closer, probably, to his very first Grand Slam victory. His rise through competition, sealed with victories against a number of elites, placed him among the leading contenders in men’s tennis.
In return, Draper will take valuable experience into the run in the postseason. A run in New York showed that he has game to compete with the best, and the more he refines and builds experience, the more consistent he’ll be at majors.