Sinner falls but still wins – Draper throws up multiple times
The world number 1 survives a scare while his opponent is struggling. Now Sinner faces Taylor Fritz in the final.
First Italian ever in the US Open final: Jannik Sinner.
Photo: Getty Images
Top favorite Jannik Sinner has reached the final at the US Open for the first time after a dramatic semi-final. The world number one fell on his left wrist while leading 7:5, 7:6 (7:3), 6:2 against outsider Jack Draper and required treatment. His British opponent threw up several times during the match in muggy conditions.
“Jack and I know each other very well; we are good friends. It was a very physical match,” said the South Tyrolean. “I am just glad to be in the final.”
The 23-year-old is now hoping for his second Grand Slam title after his triumph at the Australian Open in January. In the final, he will face American Taylor Fritz (ATP 12), who overcame compatriot Frances Tiafoe in a dramatic five-set match. Sinner is under particular public scrutiny after being cleared shortly before the tournament following two positive doping tests in the spring.
Draper seeks cooling
Draper kept up well at times in the biggest match of his career but played inconsistently while clearly impaired. The world number 25 made ten double faults in total. He had not dropped a single set in the tournament before this match.
In the second set, the 22-year-old seemed to be struggling; he threw up multiple times and then cleaned the court with a towel each time. Draper tried to cool himself with ice towels around his neck and thighs and cold air from a hose during the changeovers.
Was not in physical shape: The unfortunate Jack Draper.
Photo: Getty Images
Sinner also had problems. In the most spectacular rally of the match at 4:4 in the second set, he fell on his left wrist and, like Draper, required treatment on the bench.
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Although he initially appeared to be in pain, the injury did not seem to affect him too much afterwards. In the third set, he won the last four games in a row and converted his first match point after 3:03 hours.
At one point, it didn’t look good for the favorite: Jannik Sinner suffers pain as the physiotherapist treats his wrist.
Photo: Getty Images
Fritz: “A dream comes true”
Now Taylor Fritz challenges the top favorite Sinner for the title. The 26-year-old reaches his first Grand Slam final in his career after defeating Tiafoe 4:6, 7:5, 4:6, 6:4, 6:1.
On Sunday, Fritz has the chance to win the US Open as the first male American tennis player since Andy Roddick 21 years ago. “This is why I do this,” Fritz said in tears. “A dream comes true. I will give everything I can.”
At the net, after converting the match point, Fritz patted his US colleague on the chest and tried to encourage Tiafoe. “He overwhelmed me from the baseline. I just tried to fight,” Fritz said. Tiafoe had already lost his first US Open semi-final against Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in five sets in 2022.
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