Aug 31, 2024, 03:15 PM ET
Jack Draper reached the fourth round of the US Open for the second consecutive year with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Botic van de Zandschulp in New York on Saturday.
His Dutch opponent shocked the world of tennis when he knocked out Carlos Alcaraz in the second round on Friday, but he was no match for the Brit on Grandstand Court.
Draper has been in fine form in Flushing Meadows and quickly gained ascendency in the contest by breaking Van de Zandschulp at the first opportunity to take a 2-0 lead in the first set.
“I thought I did a really good job overall, and my performance and everything, I think, got better as the match went on,” Draper told reporters afterward.
Jack Draper has reached the fourth round at the US Open for the second time in his career. Al Bello/Getty Images
The British men’s No. 1 was made to work hard by his opponent but eventually converted his dominance into a set lead with an ace to win a fiercely contested deciding game.
Van de Zandschulp then seemed to settle into a rhythm and looked more confident in his strokeplay, but a double fault in the seventh game handed Draper the advantage that he needed to move within a set of victory.
Draper faced little resistance from his opponent in the third and final set with Van de Zandschulp losing his composure and serving five double faults in a row at one point.
The Brit will face world No. 39 Tomas Machac next after the Czech player reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time by beating Belgian David Goffin 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.
Machac is still yet to drop a set in the tournament.
“I’ve been watching his opening rounds here, and he seems like he’s really dialed in, not missing many balls at all, and playing great tennis,” Draper said.
“If I can just get out there and play some tennis that I know I’m able to, then there’s no reason why I can’t come through that one.”
