Jack Draper will be hoping to emulate his 2024 US Open form at Flushing Meadows over the next fortnight.
After all, the 2024 US Open was the Brit’s breakout tournament, as Draper reached the semi-final of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.
Around 12 months later, Draper has won his first Masters 1000 title while solidifying himself as a top-five player on the ATP Tour.
However, if Draper is to go far at the US Open, he will likely have to face at least one of the two best players on tour: Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner, and French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Ahead of the tournament, Draper has discussed how the rest of the ATP Tour are looking to catch up with the world number one and two.
Jack Draper feels there are a lot of ATP players who ‘want to keep on developing’ to reach the level of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Jack Draper enjoyed a stellar start to 2025, winning the Indian Wells Men’s Singles title and rising to number four in the world.
However, he was upset in the second round of Wimbledon by 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, before missing both the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open due to a left arm injury.
Ahead of the US Open, Draper discussed the determination of the rest of the ATP Tour to catch up with Sinner and Alcaraz.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Draper said: “I think those guys [Alcaraz and Sinner] are the most consistent, the most, you know, their level is definitely above the rest of us right now.
“But I feel like, you know, there are a lot of players who want to keep on improving, want to keep on developing to get to where they’re at.”
Jannik Sinner faces Czechia’s Vit Kopriva in the US Open first round, while Carlos Alcaraz has a tricky opener against big-serving American Reilly Opelka.
Meanwhile, Draper will face qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez in the first round.
When could Jack Draper face Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz?
If things go to plan for both Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper, the pair will meet at the quarter-final stage.
Sinner and Draper have only faced off twice on the ATP Tour. In 2021, Draper won their first contest 7-6 7-6 at the Queen’s Club Championships.
However, Sinner won their last contest in 2024 at the US Open, defeating Draper in straight sets, 7-5 7-6 6-2.
As for Alcaraz, the Spaniard leads his head-to-head against Draper by four wins to two. Alcaraz won their last contest at the Italian Open, 6-4 6-4.
