BRITISH up-and-comer Jack Draper is playing some of the best tennis of his career, with the 22-year-old seemingly past his injury-riddled years and is now into a Grand Slam semi-final. The 25th seed proved too good for a sore Alex de Minaur, winning in straight sets to reach the final four of the US Open overnight with a 6-3 7-5 6-2 win in two hours and seven minutes.

The pair had faced off three times before, and on each occasion, the win went the way of the Australian. Though on the New York hardcourt, Draper produced some scintillating tennis against an opponent who came into the tournament with a ongoing hip complaint, but had battled through it. He could not overcome the powerful Draper who is now one win away from a Grand Slam final.

“I feel like my tennis feels really flowing and I feel like I’m not using too much energy when I’m playing the points,” Draper said post-match.

The Brit is the only man left standing to have won his first five matches at Flushing Meadows without dropping a single set. His serving has been on-point not only winning plenty, but saving 25 of 28 break points across his six matches, and while he was broken twice overnight, has held 60 of his other 61 service games.

“I think coming here this week, I’ve been feeling like a more complete player,” Draper said.

“In the past I’ve always worried a little bit about playing five sets and mentally and emotionally having it be too much for me, and kind of just thinking, ‘Am I good enough to play these best players in the world in best-of-five sets?’”

In the win over de Minaur, Draper served 11 aces, won 84 per cent of his first serve points and slammed home 19 more winners (40-21) while committing the same amount of unforced errors (30-apiece) to produce a commanding performance.

The ultimate test awaits Draper in the semi-final when he takes on tournament favourite and world number one, Jannik Sinner. The Italian got past the in-form Daniil Medvedev in two hours and 39 minutes.

Sinner won 6-2 1-6 6-1 6-4 to, for the most part, control play and ensure his run at Flushing Meadows continued. The Italian who won the other hardcourt Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park earlier this year, has witnessed his biggest rivals fall, and is now the only Top 10 player remaining in the draw.

“It was very tough. We know each other quite well,” Sinner said post-match. “We played in Australia this year and then London. We knew it was going to be very physical. It was strange the first two sets because whoever made the first break then started to roll.”