Much unlike Jannik Sinner vs. Daniil Medvedev, it will be a somewhat surprising U.S. Open quarterfinal contest when Alex de Minaur and Jack Draper collide on Wednesday afternoon.
That’s not to say De Minaur is any stranger to being on this stage. In fact, this is his third consecutive run to the last eight at a Grand Slam. The world No. 10 knocked off Daniil Medvedev at the French Open before falling to Alexander Zverev and he lost only one set during his entire stay at Wimbledon but was forced to withdraw prior to facing Novak Djokovic due to a hip injury sustained in the final game of his fourth-round victory over Arthur Fils.
De Minaur then missed the Olympics and the entire hard-court summer leading into New York, but he has gotten right back to business. After looking less than 100 percent in the first two rounds, the 25-year-old appeared to be back to his normal self while defeating Dan Evans (6-3, 6-7(4), 6-0, 6-0) and Jordan Thompson (6-0, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5).
Wednesday marks the fourth meeting between De Minaur and Draper, with the Australian sweeping the head-to-head series 3-0. He prevailed 5-7, 7-6(0), 6-2, 6-3 at Wimbledon in 2022 before getting the job done twice on outdoor hard courts (in a third-set tiebreaker last fall in Tokyo and via retirement while leading 4-0 in the third set earlier this season in Acapulco).
Draper has been even more dominant than De Minaur this fortnight, although the competition level has been similarly unspectacular. The 25th-ranked Brit has advanced past Zhizhen Zhang, Facundo Diaz Acosta, Botic van de Zandschulp (who upset Carlos Alcaraz), and Tomas Machac. Not a single set in the first four rounds was more competitive than 6-4. Draper has been broken only once in the entire tournament and has saved a whopping 20 of 21 break points.
Unfortunately for the left-hander, he has not faced a returner of De Minaur’s quality and he has struggled in this matchup in the past. Moreover, Draper has never played in a major quarterfinal and prior to this result he had been past the second round only twice. At 22 years old he already has a history of physical fragility, so a best-of-five situation against a grinder like De Minaur is far from ideal.
There is always a chance that Draper overpowers another opponent in swift fashion with huge serves and forehands, but the greater likelihood is that De Minaur’s tenacious defense turns this into a long, physical fight. In that case the No. 10 seed would have an edge.
Pick: De Minaur in 5
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I love Demon and Love his speed on the court, but Draper is an athletic animal. I just saw him twice up in NY and he has a lot of momentum. He will win, in 4.
Draper is horrrid compared to de minaur. The guys just a little british man and everyone is hyping him up. Demon has also added toons of speed to his forehands
He’s 6′ 4″ you bonehead! Wtf is “toons”? Loonytoons?
Draper could take the first before his pase drops, then demon will runaway with it in 4
nah, Draper is good
I never heard so much b.s, minaur is dwarfed by drapers large 6ft 5, frame, minaur is very quick arround the court, but his biggest short coming is his weak serve, drapers is far superior, thats why draper should win
I never heard so much b.s, minaur is dwarfed by drapers large 6ft 5, frame, minaur is very quick arround the court, but his biggest short coming is his weak serve, drapers is far superior, thats why draper should win
Never knew there were so many Draper fans in the woodworks. Both roughly the same age, yet one has 9 ATP title vs. 1 ATP title.
I will say Demon does have a tendency of winning as the underdog and choking as the favorite. And its been like that for about 6 – 7 years now.
Wow! C’mon Jack!
I think all of us in the ATP TDC bracket picked Jack to lose to Alcaraz.
C’mon Jack!
Everyone, man or woman, who was picked to win this tournament have all lost!!! Can’t ever remember that happening from the time I’ve been watching tennis 😩
Saba??!! She’s many people’s fave to win it before the tourney started. Am rooting for Karolina Muchova who is one of my faves.
I’ll never like Sabalenka, amy.
🙄She is far too in love with herself, like the CH.
Hopefully, Sinner, Draper, or Tiafoe will win the Title.
What are your feelings about Navarro and Pegula Elizabeth?? I imagine all the jingo – lingo that must be going on right now is doing your head in.
I love Karolina so hoping she wins the whole thing but v. worried about her health/ injuries.
Don’t even get me started on the thought of the CH winning. One obvious nightmare is he plays Sinner in the final and Sinner’s hip flares up.
I am for Sinner winning. If not Sinner then Foe.
I was writing a note about Pegula and Navarro but had to take a call. Sorry.
They come from similar backgrounds—both wealthy families. Neither of them would have to work as hard as they do. I’m guessing they both want the title here pretty badly. Pegula used to annoy me for a reason I can’t remember. It’s almost a toss up. I don’t want to think Pegula will win because I am solidly behind Muchova in making the final 😀
Iga was fortunate to win one US Open. She was less of a target in 2022. At this point, there is nowhere to hide. The cap is as low as it can go—any lower, and she won’t be able to see! I feel the pain.
She’s far from my favourite player, but she was my favourite to win here.
Yes, Go, Karoline!
Monalisa,
Muchova has a lovely touch and makes tennis look easy. She wasn’t expected to get very far here because she had a wrist injury and hasn’t been able to compete much lately. I hope she can beat Pegula and keep going 😀
Love her game too. But I cant decide who I want to win , men or women .