Jack Draper taps into wisdom of tennis great Andy Murray as US Open in reach

By thrashing Tomas Machac on Monday, Draper grew to become the primary British man to succeed in the final eight since Andy Murray in 2016.

He has but to drop a set in his opening 4 matches, along with his type echoing that of fellow Briton Emma Raducanu, who claimed the US Open title in 2021.

He faces a winnable tie towards Australian Alex De Minaur on Wednesday.

Though he has breezed by his first 4 matches, Draper says his finest continues to be to come back.

“I feel I’ve simply acquired to maintain on going as a result of I do know that there’s nonetheless room for enchancment and nonetheless room to hopefully go additional within the event,” he stated.

“I really feel like in many of the matches I’ve simply needed to management what I can management.

“I really feel like my base degree is nice, however I nonetheless really feel like if I have to, I can enhance my degree much more.

“I really feel like there’s nonetheless a good distance for me to go and quite a bit that I can nonetheless enhance on on this event, and I feel clearly because the problem will get larger and as I play even higher gamers, I feel hopefully my degree will improve with that.

“I feel that’s the primary factor about tennis. You recognize, we will’t play our greatest tennis on a regular basis.

“It’s about how we’re coming by on the times after we’re not taking part in our greatest or when issues aren’t excellent or after we’re not feeling nice.”

Draper is doing a fairly good job of filling Murray’s sneakers within the first grand slam for the reason that Scot’s retirement.

The British primary says he is not going to be afraid to faucet into Murray’s information of taking part in on the largest stage however doesn’t wish to disrupt his time on the golf course.

“I really feel like he would fully perceive and reply to any messages I ship him and would give me recommendation, however I feel additionally on the similar time I feel he’s type of having fun with his retirement now, and he’s type of accomplished with it,” Draper stated.

“I do know if I’ve any questions or if I’m feeling one thing, then he’ll be the primary individual I textual content. I do know that he’d be there for me if I would like him.”

De Minaur, whose girlfriend is British primary Katie Boulter, has received all three earlier conferences towards Draper however is taking nothing as a right.

“I feel the largest factor that we have to perceive is that there’s nothing certain in tennis, proper? Doesn’t matter what number of occasions you’ve performed somebody. It doesn’t imply a lot,” he stated.

“So taking part in Jack, he’s coming off his finest 12 months by far. He’s taking part in with numerous confidence. He’s acquired some very massive weapons; his serve, backhand, and forehand at occasions.

“So it’s all the time powerful going through somebody like him, particularly a lefty.”