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Britain’s Jack Draper loses first grand slam semi-final to Italy’s Jannik Sinner at US Open

Britain's Jack Draper loses first grand slam semi-final to Italy's Jannik Sinner at US Open

British tennis star Jack Draper has lost to Italy’s Jannik Sinner in his first grand slam semi-final at the US Open after being sick on court four times.

The 25th seed became only the fourth British man in the Open era to reach the semi-finals at New York’s Flushing Meadows.

But after battling hard in the first two sets, he lost in straight sets 7-5, 7-6, 6-2.

Read more: Everything you need to know about Jack Draper

Image:
Jannik Sinner. Pic: Reuters

The 22-year-old was the first British man to reach the last four in the US Open since Andy Murray won it in 2012.

Both men received treatment from their trainers during a hot and humid match.

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The sheer physical exertion took its toll on Draper and he vomited several times, while Sinner, 33, needed his left wrist massaging after falling during a point he managed to win.

Jack Draper. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

Draper, the British men’s number one, had announced himself as the new star of British tennis, stepping up as Murray retired from the sport this summer.

He had reached the last four without dropping a set.

He and Sinner are friends and played doubles together at the Canadian Open last month.

Earlier this year, Sinner failed two drug tests, but he was exonerated two weeks ago after saying trace amounts of anabolic steroid had entered his system unintentionally during a massage.

He previously won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Sinner will seek his second major championship on Sunday, facing either Taylor Fritz or Frances Tiafoe.