Jack Draper vs Jannik Sinner – US Open LIVE: Latest score and updates as 22-year-old Brit bids to reach his first Grand Slam final against the world No 1

Draper is moving Sinner very nicely, striking a flashing backhand volley to make 30-love, and ends up scything his way through a dominant service game – not only the match’s most efficient, but to love, to boot.

Both keeping their cards close to their chests in these early stages of the match, but a game like that should banish any lingering first-set nerves.

Sinner skips to a commanding 40-love lead in his service game, and then pulls off a stress-free watched by his girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya. The world No 15 is back in Sinner’s box after watching his crushing of Medvedev two days ago.

In Draper’s corner is his mother Nicky, next to his brother – and agent at IMG – Ben, and his father Roger, former chairman of the LTA.

Another double fault from Draper, who had a strong 51-43 first serve percentage against De Minaur and would do well to recall that ability against an opponent as strong as tonight’s.

After getting back on top with an ace, the Brit pushes Sinner in the match’s longest rally crosscourt, and the Italian is the first to blink, spraying his forehand into the tramlines.

Strapping-watch update: Draper is playing with his right thigh strapped, likely as a precaution.

Draper hits a scarcely believable scooped forehand which ends up well out to hand Sinner a 30-15 lead. But before his opponent can pull off his no-nonsense hold, Draper pushes Sinner back and forces him to play into the net, 40-30.

An ace snuffs out hopes of the earliest of breaks, however, as both players start to find their footing.

Draper has the ability to serve beautifully, but those powers briefly abandon him as he funks two into the net to put SInner up love-30. But when he finally gets points on the board after the Italian miscues his backhand, he’s greeted with a roar of support from the murmuring Ashe crowd.

An ace draws them level, and Draper has another, punchier ace up his sleeve to lead 40-30, and does enough with his second serve to force Sinner’s backhand to hit out and claim the opening hold.

Just a few more these, and some breaks, to go, then.

It’s sunny on Arthur Ashe, and Draper takes a quick moment to request ice packs after the first game.

Sinner offers the toss to Draper, Draper in turn allows the mascot to choose for him. It goes Sinner’s way, and he opts to receive first.

It’s going to be tough. Semi-final, I’m not used to being in this position, but I’ve wanted to be here for so long, I’m going to take it all in my stride. There’s going to be a tough battle out there.

After praising Sinner, he adds:

I’m going to have to compete like an animal out there, and give it my all.

Sinner, on the day conditions after a run of night matches:

It might be slightly faster, but he’s an incredible player. Just looking forward to it and have a great match.

On using his superior experience:

I’m still young, but let’s see. But semi-finals in Grand Slams, it’s always going to be a good occasion.

The 24,000-seater stadium is steadily filling up as Sinner and Draper go through their final preparations before that long, long, long walk down the tunnel.

Already in situ: Draper’s compatriot and habitual box-occupier, Anna Wintour.

Draper’s taken a lot of heat for his sour purple-baggy shirt combination, but this commentator far prefers it to Sinner’s lichened gargoyle green. Wonder what Wintour thinks?

With Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid winning their wheelchair tennis final against Japan’s Tokito Oda and Takuya Miki 6-2 6-1.

The pair previously won silver at Tokyo three years ago – but now they have a shiny new gold medal to add to their collection!

New York’s finest showcourt will play host to an All-American battle royale between Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe.

Fritz, like Draper, is also playing his maiden Grand Slam final, after bullying past Alexander Zverev. Tiafoe, by contrast, is a New York natural, returning to this stage for the first time since 2022, when he was defeated by eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz.

As like Draper, Fritz has significantly fewer minutes in his legs that Tiafoe – both he and Sinner will have to draw upon their reserves if their matches go long.

Beyond making up an unbeaten doubles pairing in Montreal this summer, Sinner and Draper go way back. On a tour where making friends with your opponent can be loaded with pitfalls, the two players have forged a strong bond – that as Draper’s mother Nicky revealed yesterday, has even extended to Sinner teaching her son how to make pasta.

Mamma mia! You can read more about the pair’s friendship ahead of their meeting on Arthur Ashe, below.

Those who took note of Draper’s defeat of Alex de Minaur on Wednesday will remember that he took a medical timeout to tape up his right thigh after pulling up in a little discomfort after the end of the first set.

But strapping be gone! Draper was practicing without the aid earlier today, having shared after the match that he didn’t imagine being troubled long-term by twinge.

… if he has a hope of getting past the Australian Open winner on Arthur Ashe this evening.

The 22-year-old has been in flying form, to be sure, but has had a charmed run through the draw aided by retirements, injured rivals, and Tomas Machac’s game entirely deserting him.

Sinner, by contrast, looks every inch the Grand Slam winner he was down under and a far cry from the uneasy, dizzy competitor despatched by Daniil Medvedev in his Wimbledon quarter-final.

Unbowed by the swirling controversy over the revelation of his two failed doping tests earlier this year, Sinner comes to New York straight off a confident win in Cincinnati, and made former champion Medvedev look almost commonplace in their quarter-final on Wednesday night.

2021 was the first and last time that their pair met as professionals, when No 1 Sinner was ranked a lowly 23 in the world, and Draper was a mere wildcard on home turf at London’s Queen’s Club.

At least the Briton has the head-to-head in his favour, eh?

The British No1 will play Australia’s Alex de Minaur for a place in the last four later today, and has enjoyed stepping out of Andy Murray’s shadow and into the spotlight over the past 10 days.

The 22-year-old still has a long way to go to match the achievements of the three-time grand slam-winning Murray, but with his family for support, he may just make it to the very top of the game.

Draper is the one pulling out all the show-stopping shots on court, but the team behind him have played a significant role in his rise as well.

The British number one has looked in top form in New York in the past week and he hasn’t lost a set coming in to tonight’s semi-final.

Let’s take a look at his tournament so far:

Beat Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 6-0, 4-0 walkover

Facundo Díaz Acosta 6-4, 6-2, 6-2

Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 6-2

Tomas Machac 6-3, 6-1, 6-2

Alex de Minaur 6-3, 7-5, 6-2

Emma Raducanu’s US Open title in 2021 showed the world anything is possible. And for young tennis players in Britain, who had grown up watching the god-like figure of Andy Murray, it showed that mortals could win Grand Slams, too.

Jack Draper was one such player. Watching Raducanu’s astonishing run at Flushing Meadows lit a spark in him and, this fortnight, that spark has burst into flame.

‘What Emma did was incredibly inspiring,’ said Draper, who takes on world No 1 Jannik Sinner on Friday night at the US Open, in his first Grand Slam semi-final. ‘I’ve known her from a young age, and to see what she did was incredible. I was very proud of her.

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s online coverage of Jack Draper’s US Open semi-final clash against Jannik Sinner – the British number one against the world’s top ranked player.

Draper became the fourth British man to reach the last four at Flushing Meadows in the Open era after he defeated Australian Alex de Minaur on Wednesday, following in the footsteps of Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski and Andy Murray.

But he’ll be hoping to go one further and book his place in his first grand slam final by overcoming the Italian world number one who he rose up through the junior ranks with.

The match promises to serve up an intriguing watch and Mail Sport will guide you through with all the build-up, analysis and minute-by-minute updates on the court.