Jack Draper stormed into the quarter-finals of the US Open, defeating Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets with a commanding performance.
The British No. 1 overwhelmed his opponent, winning 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 in just over two hours. Draper’s victory sets up a fourth-round clash with Tomas Machac, who defeated David Goffin.
Despite having lost to van de Zandschulp in their previous three encounters, Draper dismissed any doubts and delivered a clinical display at Flushing Meadows. He capitalized on five of his eight break-point opportunities while denying van de Zandschulp’s attempts to convert any of his ten opportunities.
Draper credited his preparation for the match, stating, “I’ve had some frustration with my batting this year, but I feel I’m in a good place at the moment.”
The match took a pivotal turn when van de Zandschulp, despite starting with confidence, failed to convert a crucial opportunity. Draper’s relentless precision gave him an opportunity to pull ahead, resulting in a significant lead that he maintained throughout the contest.
“I’m just happy to be here, especially after last year’s disappointment,” Draper remarked. “I need to keep this momentum going.”
Expert Analysis
Sky Sports pundit Tim Henman praised Draper’s performance, calling it a masterclass. “From 3-3 in the first set, Jack just dominated. He was aggressive and showed maturity in closing it out in straight sets.”
Martina Navratilova echoed those sentiments, noting that Draper played an exceptional match with minimal errors, stating, “He faced only one break point until the end and was solid throughout.”
Match Stats:
- Draper:
- Aces: 11
- Double Faults: 6
- 1st Serve Win Percentage: 78%
- 2nd Serve Win Percentage: 62%
- Break Points Won: 6/9
- Total Winners: 36
- Unforced Errors: 26
- Total Points Won: 89
- Van de Zandschulp:
- Aces: 5
- Double Faults: 7
- 1st Serve Win Percentage: 63%
- 2nd Serve Win Percentage: 40%
- Break Points Won: 0/6
- Total Winners: 23
- Unforced Errors: 38
- Total Points Won: 63
With his remarkable form, Draper looks poised to make an impact as the tournament progresses.
Credit: Sky Sports
