JACK DRAPER is on the cusp of emulating Brit tennis icon Sir Andy Murray at the US Open.
The 22-year-old Sutton slugger, who is the British men’s No.1, is in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows.
And he’s two matches away from emulating Murray’s historic US Open triumph in 2012, in which he defeated then-defending champion Novak Djokovic.
All that stands between Draper and Grand Slam glory is current World No.1 Jannick Sinner and the winner of the all-American clash between Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe.
Upon reaching the semis, Draper said: “Honestly, to be out here in my first match on the biggest court in the world is a dream come true.
“I think he was maybe struggling which may have helped me.”
He later said: “I think it helps the fact that I’ve been in a lot of kind of low points already in my career where I’ve had injuries, setbacks.
“I’ve had times when I have maybe thought to stop. I am cut out for this sport?
“Am I really good enough? All this sort of stuff.”
The nation eagerly awaits Draper’s date with destiny, which SunSport is on hand to give you all the details of.
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SIR Andy Murray is Great Britain's most successful tennis player of the Open era.
After breaking through in 2005 to reach the Wimbledon third round at 18, the Scot was British No1 by the following year.
In 2008 he reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open, only to fall to Roger Federer in straight sets.
Two more final defeats at the Australian Open to Federer and Novak Djokovic followed in 2010 and 2011 before heartbreak at Wimbledon in 2012.
Despite taking the first set against Federer, he fell 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 in front of a home crowd before breaking into tears on Centre Court.
But a month later on the same court he beat the Swiss legend to earn Team GB a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics.
And weeks after that he broke his Grand Slam duck at the fifth attempt, beating Djokovic in five sets in the US Open final.
In 2013, following another Australian Open final loss, Murray beat Djokovic in straight sets to become the first British man in 77 years to win the Wimbledon title.
Three more losing Grand Slam finals followed, at the 2015 and 2016 Australian Opens and the 2016 French Open.
But in his third Grand Slam final of 2016, Murray won Wimbledon again with a straight sets victory over Canadian Milos Raonic.
He followed it up with his second Olympic gold medal, beating Juan Martin del Potro in a four-hour epic in the final in Rio de Janeiro.
Later in 2016 Murray became world No1 – the first British man to do so in history.
Over his career Murray reached 11 Grand Slam finals, winning three. He won two Olympic golds and a silver (in the mixed doubles alongside Laura Robson).
He finishes his career with 46 titles and over £50million in earnings, making him the fourth all-time leader in earnings.
His final match was at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he lost in the quarter-final of the men’s doubles at Roland Garros to USA pair Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz.
Draper and Sinner will go toe-to-toe on Friday, September 6.
Their match is set to get underway at 8pm (3pm ET).
Draper vs Sinner will be shown live on Sky Sports Tennis.
Subscribers will be able to stream the match via their gaming, mobile or tablet devices.
Non-Sky subscribers can watch the match live by purchasing a day pass on NOW TV.
