US Open 2024: Jack Draper beats Alex de Minaur and reaches the semifinals

There were doubts about De Minaur's fitness before the game even started after his training session earlier in the day lasted just 15 minutes.

The 25-year-old Australian, making his fourth Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance, looked sluggish as Draper took the first set with ease and took an early break to lead in the second.

While Draper secured this lead, De Minaur held his hip as he was at risk of recurring the injury that forced him to withdraw from his quarter-final match against Djokovic at Wimbledon.

At the following half-time break, the physiotherapist appeared on the pitch – but to treat Draper and not De Minaur, as the Briton's upper thigh was taped.

Draper didn't seem too worried and soon had five break points for a 5-2 lead, but each of them was saved by his opponent.

This was the beginning of a series of three consecutive games that threatened to turn the tide of the game in favour of the resurgent De Minaur.

At this point, it was Draper who was struggling physically, but his powerful, sweeping left-hand serve returned at the crucial moment and stopped his opponent's advance.

That fearsome shot helped him close out the set, and a powerful forehand – his other main weapon – earned him another break at the start of the third set.

De Minaur defended himself against an attack one set later, but after Draper's serve again fended off two break points at 3-2, the Australian visibly weakened.

The final set was over after just 32 minutes, making Draper the third Briton since Murray to reach a major semi-final.

He has 48 hours to recover and treat any injuries before attempting to achieve what Kyle Edmund failed to do at the 2018 Australian Open and Cameron Norrie failed to do at Wimbledon 2022: advance from the last four to the final.