Tennis at the US Open
Sinner reaches final despite fall – Draper throws up
Jannik Sinner can celebrate reaching the final. Photo
© Julia Nikhinson/AP/dpa
Jannik Sinner wins the first US Open semifinal with plenty of drama. The big underdog Jack Draper is not doing well at all.
“I was a bit more nervous today,” Draper said. “I’m an anxious person. When everything comes together, I feel a bit nauseous on the court and feel bad when it gets tight.” Sinner sympathized with the 22-year-old: “Jack and I know each other very well, we are good friends. It was a very physical match,” said the South Tyrolean. “Semifinals at a Grand Slam are different. You feel a lot of tension.”
Sinner wants a second Grand Slam title
The 23-year-old can now hope for his second Grand Slam title after the Australian Open victory in January. In the final, Sinner will face the winner of the American duel between Alexander Zverev’s conqueror Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe. Sinner is under special observation after two positive doping tests in the spring and his acquittal just before the tournament.
Draper held up well in the biggest match of his career at times but played too inconsistently. The world number 25 made a total of ten double faults. Before this match, he had not lost a single set in the tournament.
Draper seeks cooling
In the second set, the 22-year-old appeared to be unwell, throwing up several times and then cleaning the court each time with a towel. He tried to cool down in humid conditions with ice towels around his neck and thighs and cold air from a hose during changeovers.
Sinner also had issues. While running back at 4:4 in the second set, he fell on his left wrist and had to be treated on the bench like Draper. The wrist felt looser afterwards, said Sinner. “We’ll have to see how it is tomorrow when it’s colder. It will be different. Hopefully, there’s nothing to worry about.” In the third set, he won the last four games in a row and converted his first match point after 3:03 hours.
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