The only surviving British player at this year’s US Open, Jack Draper, has a challenging opponent to advance to the quarterfinals.

The 21-year-old had to defeat American Michael Mmoh to advance to the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time. The next challenge for Draper is a difficult contest against Andrey Rublev, who has advanced to the final eight of a Grand Slam eight times.

There were real concerns that he wouldn’t be able to even participate, so it’s amazing he’s made it this far in the US Open. His progress has been slowed by injuries in 2023, and even a shoulder injury forced him to skip Wimbledon.

Even the number one player in the world, Carlos Alcaraz, offered encouragement and support to Draper. Retired British star Laura Robson disclosed it during an interview and stated: “I was actually speaking to Jack Draper back in Miami after he’d had to pull out of the tournament there having injured himself in Indian Wells.”

She further added: “He was getting texts from Carlos saying, ‘Let me know if you need anything. Reach out if you want to have a chat about how you’re feeling, about having so many injuries on and off.’ And just got the situation. And Jack’s got nothing but good things to say about him. But I can’t think of anyone who has got a bad thing to say about him.”

Alcaraz at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2023

Ranked world no.1, Carlos has an overall 56-6 match record in 2023. Alcaraz is playing at the U.S. Open where he bested the world no.75 Dominik Koepfer 6-2 3-2 ret., the world no.177 Lloyd Harris 6-3 6-1 7-6⁴ and the world no.28 Daniel Evans 6-2 6-3 4-6 6-3.

Carlos Alcaraz will come up against the world no.61 Matteo Arnaldi in the 4^th

round on Monday at 2:00 pm on ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM. In the past, they have never competed against each other till now in top tournaments.

Carlos has won 6 titles in 2023 in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, London and Wimbledon. Alcaraz reached the final in Rio de Janeiro (Rio Open) and in Cincinnati (Western & Southern Open).

Alcaraz won 12 titles in his career: 3 on hard courts, 7 on clay courts and 2 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)

Draper at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2023

Currently the world no.123, Jack has a 16-9 win-loss record in 2023. Draper is participating at the U.S. Open where he toppled the world no.102 Radu Albot 6-1 6-4 6-3, the world no.17 Hubert Hurkacz 6-2 6-4 7-5 and the world no.89 Michael Mmoh 6-4 6-2 3-6 6-3.

Jack Draper will fight against the world no.8 Andrey Rublev in the 4^th round on Monday at 1:00 pm on LOUIS ARMSTRONG STADIUM. Their actual record is 2-0 for Rublev.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jack Draper played each other only twice. Their actual head-to-head record is 2-0 for Alcaraz. The last time they squared off, Carlos Alcaraz won 6-2 2-0 ret. in the 4^th round in Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open) on the 14^th of March 2023.

You can watch the highlights in the following video.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jack Draper

Embed from Getty Images