US Open: ‘Solid Jack Draper has plenty to improve but his draw is wide open say Tim Henman, Martina Navratilova, Feliciano Lopez and Laura Robson | Tennis News
Britain’s Jack Draper is by to the final 16 on the US Open and has carried out so with out dropping a set.
Greater than that, he is solely been damaged simply as soon as in all three video games, most just lately dispatching of Carlos Alcaraz’s conqueror Botic van de Zandschulp in straight units on Saturday 6-3 6-4 6-2.
Draper subsequent faces 23-year-old Czech Tomas Machac for a spot within the quarter-finals, with Draper’s kind, confidence and the chance that has opened in his part of the draw giving him the possibility of a lifetime to maybe style Grand Slam glory.
Third seed Carlos Alcaraz and seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz have been dumped out of Draper’s part already, with tenth seed Alex de Minaur the highest-ranked participant remaining in a piece the place one participant will attain the semi-finals.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic has already been knocked out too in a event of upsets, with Sky Sports activities Tennis analysts Tim Henman and Laura Robson stating the chance Draper now has in entrance of him.
“We’ve looked at that section of the draw, and it has opened up,” Henman stated.
“It is simply so vital that he [Draper] actually stays targeted on his preparation and efficiency, and does not get forward of himself.
“They [players in this section of the draw] will all be aware this is a big opportunity.”
Robson added: “It’s wide open. Jordan Thompson took out the other high seed in this section, beating Hubert Hurkacz, and for De Minaur to be the highest ranked, I think that’s an opening for a lot of players.
“Particularly for Jack if we’re getting excited and wanting forward.
“De Minaur hasn’t been totally healthy leading up to this tournament, he’s still been struggling with his hip and hasn’t really played since Wimbledon.
“It appears like an opportunity.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Draper assesses his efficiency within the third spherical of the US Open as he beat Van de Zandschulp in straight units
Draper scientific and skilled, but plenty to improve
Draper’s quick ideas courtside after victory over Van de Zandschulp had been that he was “solid but scrappy” and “a little bit up and down”.
It was a sentiment shared by Sky Sports activities analysts Martina Navratilova and Feliciano Lopez, in addition to Henman and Robson, with the Brit’s attacking play on the internet, volleys and first-serve share all areas talked about as requiring enchancment.
“Jack [Draper] really played a very grown-up match. He knew where the big points were, he concentrated, he defended his serve great,” Navratilova stated.
“Van de Zandschulp received certainly one of 10 break factors. That is how nicely Jack defended his serve. Twice he aced him in the identical spot on break factors.
Martina Navratilova informed Sky Sports activities Tennis ‘Draper was higher by way of all of the vital stats’
“Botic had his chances, but Jack played the big points so much better, and he won five of his eight break points. All the important stats, Jack was better.
“If the conversion is totally different on the break factors, Botic can win in straight units. But as an alternative it was a really easy efficiency from Jack. Simply actually stable.”
Lopez added: “He [Draper] performed a really mature and skilled match, and this is the match that he wanted to play.
“He is in an excellent place now. He is coming into the second week of a Grand Slam with out shedding a set, he has misplaced his serve solely as soon as.
Feliciano Lopez informed Sky Sports activities Tennis he believes Draper ought to come to the online a bit extra
“The physical condition of a player is very important and always plays an important role when it comes to Grand Slams. It’s great news he’s going to be in great shape entering the second week.
“He reached the fourth spherical final 12 months, so this 12 months he could also be going a bit of bit additional I believe.
“I’d like to see him more at the net. I think he feels comfortable beating most of the players recently from the back of the court, but this is not the way he has to play all the time.
“He is such a giant man, if he went to the online a bit of bit extra, it could be so powerful for his opponents to hit passing photographs. He can cowl the online very nicely.
“He has a good touch. Still a lot of improvement in his game, but he looks in a great moment in his career. I really like Jack. He looks very composed, and has settled down, and I think it’s a good sign.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Draper reveals his favorite Gallagher brother and extra as he performs This or That!
Robson informed Sky Sports activities Tennis: “It was solid. I think the scoreline doesn’t necessarily tell you the full story of the match, especially the first set and the fact he [Draper] faced so many break points.
“He managed to get by them, and I believe he was being a bit cussed at occasions going for a similar serve that he was lacking, and attempting to flatten it out, as an alternative of sticking to the serve that was working so nicely.
“When he was under pressure, you saw him go to the spots that serve him so well. All in all, he’ll be happy to get through that in two hours and 15 minutes. It wasn’t a super hard match.
“I believed he might have come into the online extra. And one factor is his first volley wants a bit of labor. He went an excessive amount of for the drop volley, and it simply grew to become predictable.
“But he’ll be completely satisfied to be by to the second week, and Jack simply appears so assured today.
Laura Robson informed Sky Sports activities Tennis ‘Draper was stable, but straight units win does not inform full story’
“It’s fun that he’s rolled through to the second week and we can talk about what he could have done so much better today.
“The truth that he hit 103 serves at this time in contrast to Botic who hit 70, and that takes it out of your arm a bit of bit greater than you’d need at this stage of the event. The actual fact he is by is most vital.”
Henman added: “Whenever you replicate on it as a complete, it is fairly routine. In his three matches thus far, he hasn’t actually been in too many tough conditions, and we’ve got to bear in mind Van de Zandschulp has simply knocked out Carlos Alcaraz. He was a special participant at this time and did not play as nicely.
“Jack was very skilled, stored his depth and the primary set was 6-3 but was rather a lot nearer than that.
Tim Henman informed Sky Sports activities Tennis ‘there’s plenty Draper can nonetheless do higher’
“With that leftie serve firing on all cylinders, by the end of the match Van de Zandschulp didn’t know where Draper was going to go.
“He was so stable, Jack will likely be completely delighted with his efficiency.
“Also, when you reflect on the match, there’s still plenty he can do better. His first-serve percentage in the first set was 41, and that’s why in three or four service games he was under pressure.
“With the volleys, he appears to bend from his waist a bit of bit fairly than his knee. This is nonetheless a participant that has numerous enhancing to do, and he is by to the fourth spherical. It is good.”
What’s developing on Sky Sports activities Tennis in September?
- Jasmin Open, Tunisia – WTA 250 (9-15 September)
- Guadalajara Open, Mexico – WTA 500 (9-15 September)
- Korea Open – WTA 500 (16 -22 September – with Emma Raducanu in motion)
- Thailand Open – WTA 250 (16 -22 September)
- Chengdu Open, China – ATP 250 (18-24 September)
- Hangzhou Open, China – ATP 250 (18-24 September)
- China Open – WTA 1000 (Sept 25 – Oct 6)
- Japan Open – ATP 500 (Sept 25 – Oct 1)
- China Open – ATP 500 (Sept 26 – Oct 2)
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Discover out all of the methods to watch tennis on Sky Sports activities, together with the US Open, ATP and WTA excursions
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and will likely be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities clients entry to over 50 per cent extra dwell sport this 12 months at no additional price. Discover out extra right here.