Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper have made history at the US Open, becoming the first Americans and British players, respectively, to reach the semi-finals in years. Pegula, ranked 8th in the world, stunned world number one Iga Swiatek 6-2, 6-4, while Draper, seeded 25th, defeated 10th-ranked Alex de Minaur 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.
Pegula’s victory marks her first Grand Slam semi-final appearance after falling in six previous quarter-finals. She will face Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in the next round, with a potential all-American final looming if Emma Navarro upsets Aryna Sabalenka in the other semi-final.
Draper, meanwhile, has become the first British man to reach the US Open semi-finals since Andy Murray won the title in 2012. He will face either world number one Jannik Sinner or 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev for a place in the championship match.
Pegula’s success continues her impressive summer on US hard courts, where she has won 14 of 15 matches. “Finally I can say I’m a semi-finalist,” she said after her victory over Swiatek. “I lost so many of these damn things.”
Draper’s victory came despite a medical timeout early in the second set to have his right thigh bandaged. “It’s amazing,” he said. “My first time on Arthur Ashe Stadium, it means the world to me.”
The US Open semi-finals promise to be thrilling, with the possibility of an all-American sweep in both the men’s and women’s tournaments. Home fans will be hoping for a repeat of Andy Roddick’s 2003 victory in the men’s singles, while Serena Williams, Sloane Stephens, and Coco Gauff have all triumphed in the women’s tournament in recent years.
