Jack Draper has raced into the US Open quarter-finals without dropping a set, and is now just three matches away from glory in New York.
The British No1 will play Australia’s Alex de Minaur for a place in the last four later today, and has enjoyed stepping out of Andy Murray’s shadow and into the spotlight over the past 10 days.
The Scot retired last month after competing at his fifth Olympics, and Draper has since emerged as his heir apparent.
The 22-year-old still has a long way to go to match the achievements of the three-time grand slam-winning Murray, but with his family for support, he may just make it to the very top of the game.
Draper is the one pulling out all the show-stopping shots on court, but the team behind him have played a significant role in his rise as well.
Jack Draper (pictured) has moved into the US Open quarter-finals without dropping a set
His rise has been inspired by his ‘nana’ (right), who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease
Draper has revealed his ‘nana’ was one of biggest supporters when he first started playing, but she can no longer remember him due to her ‘cruel disease’
The 6ft 4in left-hander is very close with his grandmother – who he refers to as ‘nana’ – but opened up last year on her Alzheimer’s diagnosis that has left her struggling to remember him.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, and is a condition that affects memory, thinking and behaviour.
Draper is keen to raise awareness of the ‘cruel disease’ and he bravely spoke in December about the effect it has had on his grandmother.
‘Nana was one of my biggest supporters growing up and I have always been very close to her, but this is a disease which completely takes away the person you knew,’ Draper said, as quoted by BBC Sport.
‘My Pa, who is Nana’s main carer, still brings her to the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton to watch me train, but she doesn’t know who I am. And if my tennis matches are on TV, he will tell Nana it’s me but it doesn’t register with her anymore.
‘This is probably the saddest part for me and my family, that she no longer recognises or is able to communicate with us. Nana was a huge supporter of my tennis, and I wish she could see and appreciate all the things I’ve achieved so far as I know she would be very proud of me.’
Draper’s ‘nana’ would certainly be proud right now with the young Brit in the form of his life, but perhaps we should have always seen this moment coming given that Draper is from a tennis-mad family.
His father, Roger, once held the position of Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) chief executive, while he also previously had the same role at Sport England.
Meanwhile, Draper’s mother, Nicky, was the best female junior player in Britain in her younger years before turning to coaching.
Draper’s father, Roger (pictured), was the chief executive for Sport England and the LTA
His mother, Nicky (pictured) was the best female junior player in Britain in her younger years
They have been with Draper every step of the way, and now he is reaping the benefits.
Even his brother, Ben, was a fine player, playing at college level at the University of California-Berkeley prior to pursuing a Master’s degree at Wake Forest University in North Carolina.
But it is Jack who has proven he is the real deal to move to a career-high world ranking of 25 last month, and he is only set to rise even further after his US Open run.
Draper showed glimpses of his potential earlier this year when he beat former grand slam finalist Matteo Berrettini to lift his maiden ATP Tour title in Stuttgart, and he followed that up by beating Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets at Queen’s.
But he had never been beyond the fourth round of a major before turning up in New York at the end of last month.
Now, he has taken that next step and he will fancy his chances of going all the way. After all, Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have already crashed out, leaving the draw wide open.
Standing in his way of a place in the semi-finals is De Minaur, who is currently dating Britain’s No1 female player, Katie Boulter.
Alex de Minaur (pictured) is standing between Draper and the US Open semi-finals
De Minaur (right) will be cheered on by his girlfriend Katie Boulter (left), who is Britain’s No1 female tennis player
But Draper has the backing of his own family, and is now trying to emulate his hero Andy Murray by winning his first major at the US Open 12 years on from the Scot’s triumph
De Minaur is ranked higher than Draper and is into his third consecutive major quarter-final of the year. It’s a stage he has become accustomed to, while this is unchartered territory for Draper.
But the Brit has taken everything in his stride in ‘The Big Apple’, and can be expected to come out swinging on Wednesday evening.
It was at this very tournament that Murray broke his grand slam drought in 2012.
Twelve years later, and with his family driving him on, Draper is closing in on emulating his hero.
