Czech Karolina Muchova during her quarter-final match against Brazilian Beatriz Haddad at the US Open in New York on September 4, 2024. SARAH STIER / AFP
Twelve years after Andy Murray, Jack Draper will represent the United Kingdom in the semi-finals of the US Open, a first for him. The Czech Karolina Muchova will return to the last four of the American Grand Slam tournament a year after her first semi-final at Flushing Meadows, and especially after ten months without playing due to injury.
They will know their opponent in a few hours. For the Czech, it will be the world number one, the Polish Iga Swiatek who beat her in the Roland-Garros final in 2023, or the American Jessica Pegula (6th). For the Briton, it will be the world number one, the Italian Jannik Sinner, or the Russian Daniil Medvedev (5th), winner of the tournament in 2021.
World No. 25 Jack Draper continued his winning ways, winning his first Grand Slam quarter-final against No. 10 Australian Alex De Minaur 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 and will play in his first major semi-final. At 22, he is the fourth Briton to reach the semi-finals of the men’s draw in New York in the Open era (which began in 1968) after Greg Rusedski (1997), Tim Henman (2004) and Andy Murray (2008, 2011, 2012).
“It’s the first time I’ve played on the biggest court in the world. [le stade Arthur-Ashe] and it’s a dream come true”commented the Briton who did not seem to have his head in the clouds at all as he imposed his game on De Minaur. Last year, at Flushing Meadows, he reached the round of 16, which was his best result to date in a Grand Slam. In this tournament, before this quarter-final, he had not lost a single set and he had only conceded his serve once. De Minaur took his serve twice, but without managing to take a set. “I was strong and, physically, it’s been a long time since I felt this strong.”Draper stressed.
The highly anticipated clash between Sinner and Medvedev is scheduled at the very end of the program on the Arthur-Ashe court. The Italian and the Russian have already faced each other twice this year in Grand Slams: the former won the Australian Open final and the latter won the quarter-final between them at Wimbledon. In this half of the draw very early deprived of Carlos Alcaraz, winner in 2022, the winner of this quarter-final will be the favorite to reach the final.
“Physical problems” for Karolina Muchova
In the women’s race, to reach the semi-finals, Karolina Muchova (52nd) eliminated the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad (21st) 6-1, 6-4. “I am very happy to be in the last four again”said the 28-year-old with a big smile, having had to end her season after losing in the semi-finals of the 2023 US Open to eventual champion Coco Gauff. She had surgery on her wrist in February and only returned to competition in June.
Haddad, totally non-existent at the start of the game, practically gave her the first set. The Brazilian, who had physical problems, being examined on the court at the end of the game, held her serve a little better in the second set but the Czech, despite stomach pains, managed to win.
“It was a strange match. I had some physical problems that I prefer not to comment on. I managed to get through them by going back and forth to the toilet. Sorry if it was disturbing, but I had no choice.”commented Karolina Muchova. The Czech must hope that these ailments do not last too long because she will continue with her semi-final on Thursday, without a day off.
