Jack Draper continued his remarkable run at the US Open on Wednesday night by beating Australian Alex de Minaur in three sets to secure his place in the semi-finals.
The British No. 1 has never reached the fourth round of a major before, but now he is on the verge of making it all the way in New York.
There is only one man who stands in his way to the final – although that is quite an obstacle – and that is the world number 1, Jannik Sinner.
Draper and Sinner are only four months apart in age, but it is the Italian who has shaken up the tennis world over the past twelve months.
He won his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January and reached the top of the world rankings by winning 15 ATP Tour titles. Draper had to wait until June for his first and only tour triumph in Stuttgart.
British No. 1 Jack Draper has reached the semi-finals of the US Open without dropping a set
Draper is now set to face world number 1 Jannik Sinner (pictured) in the semi-finals on Friday.
Sinner (left) and Draper (right) will meet just weeks after playing doubles together in Canada
The pair reached the quarterfinals of the doubles in Montreal as their friendship blossomed
Slowly but surely Draper has closed the gap on Sinner and on Friday evening he will come face to face with the 1.93 meter tall Italian.
But just a few weeks ago, they were on the same side of the net playing doubles together at the Canadian Open in Montreal.
The pair secured two victories before pulling out of their quarter-final as their friendship blossomed. Draper revealed they have been in touch for years via text messages, congratulating each other on victories and cheering each other up after defeats.
“We’ve always stayed in touch since I’ve been on tour the last few years,” Draper said.
‘Jannik is a good friend, someone I am definitely close to. We send each other messages in good times, bad times.
“It’s a tough sport to play when you’re a young guy. You’re kind of, you’re on the road, you’re playing such a relentlessly intense sport, both physically and emotionally, and it’s tough, we don’t have many friends.”
Sinner was also full of praise for Draper after his four-set victory over Daniil Medvedev on Wednesday.
“It was fun sharing the court with him in doubles in Montreal,” he said. “We got to know each other even better. We text each other when we’re having good times or bad times, to keep each other up at night. It’s a great friendship.
“Of course we try to put that aside for the hours we’re on the court. I think that’s pretty obvious, but you know, when we shake hands, we get our friendship back and that’s always going to be good.”
It’s no surprise that the two get along so well, as they have a lot in common.
The stylish Sinner has posed for Gucci photoshoots, one of many lucrative collaborations
Draper posed for Vogue and was followed in New York by editor-in-chief Anna Wintour (center)
Draper wore oversized Nike shirts in New York, prompting some fans to laugh at him hilariously on social media
Some fans have joked that his interesting fashion choices are the secret to his success
Both men strive to become the best tennis players in the world and flourish in another industry: modeling.
Sinner is a Gucci poster boy, while Draper did his first Vogue photo shoot in June and was watched in New York by the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour.
Draper raised eyebrows with his oversized Nike shirts during his US Open run, and fans laughed at him hilariously on social media. But somehow he’s managed to do this while playing the best tennis of his life.
Sinner keeps things a little simple when it comes to his clothing choices, and he likes it that way, but not everything has gone smoothly for the 23-year-old this year.
Sinner made headlines last month, just days before the US Open kicked off, when it was revealed that he had tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol in two doping tests in March.
He avoided suspension after claiming the substance entered his system when his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi gave him a massage after he used an over-the-counter spray containing the steroid to treat an open wound on his finger.
A panel of the court accepted this explanation, ruling that there was “no fault or negligence” on Sinner’s part. However, controversial Australian player and commentator Nick Kyrgios has called for Sinner to be given a more severe punishment.
Sinner’s steroid scandal hasn’t affected his relationship with Draper, however, and the pair will go into Friday’s clash as good friends. But it will be strictly business once the match begins.
Sinner has put his steroid scandal behind him and has reached the last four in New York
But he knows more than most that he can’t take Draper lightly when they collide on Friday
Sinner is the clear favorite, despite being about the same age, he has more experience and has been much more consistent than Draper since he burst onto the world stage.
But he knows better than most that Draper is not to be taken lightly. The 22-year-old Briton has not dropped a set in his first five matches in New York, and Sinner has seen first-hand how devastating Draper can be when he finds his rhythm on the court.
It promises to be a fascinating battle between two players who treat each other with great respect.
Fans can expect a handshake and a hug at the net after the match, but there is only one man who can keep an eye on the US Open final on Sunday: Draper wants to beat his friend and get one step closer to realizing his American dream.