- The Englishman has surged to the latter stages of Grand Slam in last fortnight
- His mother Nicky has now revealed she has flown to New York for the match
- She also lifted the lid on the dish that Italian Sinner taught Draper to cook
Jack Draper’s mother has made a last-minute U-turn and jetted off to New York to see her son play in his US Open semi-final against Jannik Sinner, having previously seemed unsure as to whether she would watch.
The Englishman has surged to the latter stages of the Grand Slam without dropping a single set, seeing off Zhang Zhizhen, Facundo Díaz Acosta, Botic van de Zandschulp, Tomas Machac and number ten seed Alex de Minaur in the process.
As he prepares to face the world’s top tennis player at the Arthur Ashe stadium tonight, Draper will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Emma Raducanu who won the women’s title in 2021.
Victory tonight would also make him the first men’s British Grand Slam finalist since Andy Murray lifted the Wimbledon trophy eight years ago.
And, in a dramatic change of heart, his mother Nicky has decided to head to the Big Apple for the biggest game of her son’s career, revealing the news to the BBC.
Jack Draper’s mother has made a last-minute U-turn and jetted off to New York to see her son play in his US Open semi-final
The Englishman has surged to the latter stages of the Grand Slam without dropping a set
He now prepares to face the world’s top tennis player at the Arthur Ashe stadium tonight
I’ve got a flight booked this evening,’ she said. ‘I only decided this morning to go.’
This was a big departure from her comments earlier this week when she said would ‘probably not’ be in the stadium for the monumental clash.
She added: ‘It’s in the back of my mind.
‘But I’ve been watching every match with my dad, with my dog, swearing and cursing, jumping up and down, clapping, having a glass of wine at the same time.
‘I’ve got both of my boys out there, I think they’re doing fine without me. So probably not.’
Nicky also revealed that Draper and his Italian adversary are friends and lifted the lid on what dish Sinner taught her son to cook.
‘I think they’re quite good friends actually. They’ve played some doubles and they’ve shared the odd dinner together.
‘I think Jannik has made Jack some pasta and taught him how to cook pasta.
Nicky also revealed that Draper and his Italian adversary are friends
Draper will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Emma Raducanu who won the women’s title in 2021
A win tonight would also make him the first men’s British Grand Slam finalist since Andy Murray lifted the Wimbledon trophy eight years ago
Murray, who retired this summer aged 37, first reached the US final in 2008 before winning the trophy four years later after beating Serbian Novak Djokovic (pictured)
‘They’re young boys, aren’t they?’
When Raducanu cruised past Leylah Fernandez in the final three years ago, many tipped the then 19-year-old to rise to the top of the sport – but she has endured a torrid three years since marred by injuries and changes to her coaching team.
Murray, who retired this summer aged 37, first reached the US final in 2008 before winning the trophy four years later after beating Serbian Novak Djokovic. It was his first Grand Slam victory.
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