Jack Draper stated he was thrilled to turn out to be the primary British man to achieve the U.S. Open quarterfinals since his good friend and mentor Andy Murray in 2016 after beating Tomas Machac in straight units on Monday.
The red-hot Draper has but to drop a set or a service sport on the event and dominated his Czech opponent 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 for the 22-year-old’s deepest run at a Grand Slam event.
“Extremely pleased with that achievement,” Draper instructed reporters. “To comply with in Andy’s footsteps and make the quarterfinals right here since he did it in 2016, it is a large achievement for me.
“However I feel I’ve simply bought to maintain on going as a result of I do know that there is nonetheless room for enchancment and nonetheless room to hopefully go additional within the event.”
Murray, who received the U.S. Open in 2012 for the primary of his three main titles, retired after the Paris Olympics and whereas Draper stated the 37-year-old is at all times only a textual content away, he didn’t plan on reaching out to him in the intervening time.
“Most likely not,” he stated.
“Clearly I really feel like he would utterly perceive and reply to any messages I ship him and would give me recommendation, however I feel additionally on the identical time I feel he is sort of having fun with his retirement now and he is sort of accomplished with it.”
Draper beat Murray of their solely ATP Tour degree assembly at Indian Wells final yr in a match that felt on the time like a altering of the guard for British tennis.
“Andy I clearly miss,” Draper stated in an on-court interview.
“Shout out to him. What an unbelievable profession the man has had. Icon of the sport. I miss him within the altering rooms. I miss being subsequent to his smelly sneakers and all of his smelly garments,” he stated.
“Andy is a legend. If I’ve half the profession that he is had, then I will be a contented man.”
