Jack Draper and Jannik Sinner will play for their first-ever US Open finals on Friday, which will put them on opposite sides of the net less than a month after they shared a doubles court.
Ever since the two friends started competing on the junior circuit, they have been close. Following his victory over Alex de Minaur in straight sets, Draper credited Sinner for motivating him to reach a career-best outcome at a major tournament.
Having played doubles with Draper at the Canadian Open last month, the Italian player already has a good relationship with him. But when they compete against one another to advance to the US Open final, they will have to put their friendship aside.
Speaking after defeating Medvedev, Sinner disclosed that he and Draper frequently text each other, sharing details about their interaction outside of the game of tennis.
Sinner talked about it and said: “It was nice to share the court with him in doubles in Montreal. We got to know each other even more. We text each other when we have good or bad times, trying to keep us up. It’s a great friendship. Obviously, we try to put this away for the hours we are on court. I think that’s quite obvious but, you know, whenever we shake our hands we get our friendship back and it’s always going to be good.”
Draper recently talked about his relationship with Sinner and promised to keep in touch with him no matter what unfolds in New York later this week.
Draper said: “We’ve always kept in touch since I’ve been on tour the last couple of years. Jannik is a good friend, someone I’m definitely close to. We send each other messages in good moments and bad moments. It was really nice to be able to step out on court with him. Yeah, I’m sure we will continue to stay in touch.”
Sinner at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2024
WWWWWWWWWW At the moment ranked no.1, the Italian owns a 53-5 win-loss record in 2024. Jannik is now playing at the U.S. Open where he conquered the world no.140 Mackenzie Mcdonald 2-6 6-2 6-1 6-2, the world no.49 Alex Michelsen 6-4 6-0 6-2, the world no.87 Christopher O Connell 6-1 6-4 6-2, the world no.14 Tommy Paul 7-6(3) 7-6(5) 6-1 and the world no.5 Daniil Medvedev 6-2 1-6 6-1 6-4.
Jannik Sinner will play the world no.25 Jack Draper in the semifinal. Their current record is 1-0 for Draper.
The Italian clinched 5 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle and Cincinnati.
Jannik won 16 titles in his career: 7 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 7 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Draper at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2024
Ranked world no.25 (career-high), the Brit has achieved a composed 30-17 match record in 2024. Draper is now having a run at the U.S. Open where he managed to beat the world no.41 Zhizhen Zhang 6-3 6-0 4-0 ret., the world no.64 Facundo Diaz Acosta 6-4 6-2 6-2, the world no.74 Botic Van De Zandschulp 6-3 6-4 6-2, the world no.39 Tomas Machac 6-3 6-1 6-2 and the world no.10 Alex De Minaur 6-3 7-5 6-2.
Jack Draper will take on the world no.364 Lucas Poullain in the final. Their actual head to head record is 2-0 for Poullain.
The Brit conquered 1 title in 2024 in Stuttgart. Draper reached the final in Adelaide (Adelaide International).
Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper played each other only once. Their record is 1-0 for Draper. When they played, Jack Draper won 7-6(6) 7-6(2) in the 1st round in London (Cinch Championships) in June 2021.
You can see them in action in the following highlights.
