Jack Draper recounts sickness ordeal in US Open semi-final defeat to Jannik Sinner - ‘Worst feeling ever’

ByJames Hilsum

Published 07/09/2024 at 08:14 GMT

Jack Draper played a gruelling US Open semi-final against Jannik Sinner, as he admirably went toe-to-toe with the world No. 1 despite battling feelings of nausea throughout the contest. Draper lost in straight sets against the Italian, but still produced some stunning shots in a gutsy defeat. Sinner can now look forward to a clash with Taylor Fritz in Sunday's final.

Jack Draper admitted it was the “worst feeling ever” after being blighted by nausea in his US Open semi-final defeat to Jannik Sinner.

The 22-year-old was making his first appearance in the last four of a Grand Slam, and progressed to that point in the tournament without dropping a set.

However, the British No. 1 admitted the magnitude of the occasion made him more nervous before the match.

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“It was a very physical match; obviously that's why Jannik is the No. 1 player in the world, because when you play the top players, the intensity is different,” he said in his post-match press conference. "It's a step up, and it's a big occasion for me.

“I definitely felt - even though I generally feel pretty relaxed - a bit more excited, and there were a few more nerves around.

“I'm definitely someone who's quite an anxious human being, so when you add all that together, sometimes I do feel a bit of nausea on court and a bit sick when it gets tough. I didn't have any problems before the match, but it obviously, it just built up.”

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Draper was visibly sick several times during the match, and admits his condition deteriorated each time.

However, the world No. 25 insisted that at no point did he consider retiring in what was the biggest match of his career to date.

Draper said: “You don't feel better, you feel worse and worse because you can't put anything in your body. When you're playing long matches, you need to be able to drink and eat things, and to give your body the supplies to keep on going.

“Obviously, when you're feeling sick, you can't put anything inside your body as it comes straight out - it's the worst feeling ever. You can't move around the court when that happens, so no, it's a horrible feeling, and you feel dizzier and sicker.

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“I'm not going to retire in the semis of a Grand Slam. I know the last set was not a great look from courtside or on the TV, but I always try to give my best.

“In the second set, I wasn't feeling too great, but I still pushed it to a tie-break.

"I was fighting hard, I'm proud of myself, I tried to fight as hard as I can, but I'm just not going to get it done [win] against someone like that.”

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