Amid gasps of astonishment and groans of disappointment at Carlos Alcaraz’s shock defeat at the US Open, one could make out the more subtle sound of opportunity knocking at the door of Jack Draper.
The best of Britain was due to face the world No3 in the third round on Saturday but will instead meet his conqueror: unseeded Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.
More tangentially, Dan Evans also benefits, as the two Britons now find themselves in a kind section of the draw from which one of eight men will emerge as a first-time Grand Slam semi-finalist.
The highest ranked player of that octet is Evans’ opponent today/on Saturday, No10 seed Alex de Minaur. But the Aussie estimated he is still only ‘80-85 per cent’ fit after a hip injury suffered at Wimbledon. ‘Every match is a bonus,’ said the 25-year-old. ‘Expectations were very low going in, wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to be here.’
Given that, plus the fact Evans has never lost to De Minaur in three tour-level meetings, the world No184 looks to have a fair chance.
British tennis ace Jack Draper has a golden chance to qualify for the US Open semi-finals
Dan Evans also finds himself with the chance of reaching the US Open final four
Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated from the US Open in a shock upset defeat on Friday
As for Draper, from expecting to be a significant underdog he is now a favourite against world No 74 Van der Zandschulp. The 28-year-old was muttering about retiring after a first-round defeat at the French Open in May but played an exceptional, nerveless match under the lights and if he does so again today Draper will have it all on. But history tells us it is never easy to back up such a seismic upset.
So what on earth happened to Alcaraz? It felt like the reaping of seeds sown over a physically and emotionally gruelling summer in which he won the French Open and Wimbledon, then lost the Olympic gold medal match to Novak Djokovic.
‘It was a fight against myself,’ said Alcaraz. ‘A lot of emotions I couldn’t control…a roller coaster in my mind.
‘What I feel is that instead of taking steps forward, I have taken steps backwards in terms of my mentality. I don’t understand why.’
Alcaraz’s muscle-bound body was present on Arthur Ashe but it felt like a shard of his soul was still in Paris, where he sobbed, clutched his silver medal and admitted to feeling he had let his country down.
A warning sign was when, for the first time in his short career, the 21-year-old smashed his racket after defeat by Gael Monfils in Cincinnati. Alcaraz called that loss the worst of his career. He may have to revise that view.
The American betting lines had him as odds-on favourite against Botic to the tune of 1-1000. Even at those less than attractive odds, one Las Vegas highroller staked $101,900 on Alcaraz and lost the lot.
Speaking of the bookies, Draper is their favourite to emerge from this wide open section of the draw and reach his first Grand Slam semi-final. The 22-year-old has struggled with injuries in his nascent career but has reinforced his frame over the last 12 months.
Evans will play against World No.10 seed Alex de Minaur who he has never lost against
Draper is their favourite to emerge from this wide open section of the draw and reach his first Grand Slam semi-final
‘In terms of my physicality, I think Cincinnati was a good test,’ he said. ‘I played three long, three-set matches against top players. When I watch my tennis, compared to last year, I’m definitely moving a lot more efficiently. I’m feeling stronger and I’m not getting sore. I have confidence in my body. I’ve put in so much work, a lot of pain, a lot of early mornings, a lot of sacrifice and discipline. And that’s, that’s the preparation that’s making me feel confident in myself.’
Both Draper and Evans have fine records in New York. Draper made the third round on debut in 2022 and the fourth round last year. Evans has made at least the third round on six out of his seven appearance here. Significantly, his worst year was in 2020, when Covid kept fans away. If Draper likes it here for the extra venom the slick courts add to his lefty serve then Evans enjoys the energy of the crowd and the buzz of the city that never sleeps.
‘The first time I ever come here I was just amazed by the city,’ said Evans. ‘It’s nuts, isn’t it? And obviously my personality, I’m not shy to enjoy that part of the city. It just amazed me. And I love everything about how the crowd are here. It is all set up for a Super Saturday of British tennis.
