Jack Draper has put the tennis world on notice

One of the unique aspects of Draper's game is he doesn't rely on lateral quickness to cover the court to overwhelm opponents with groundstrokes — a formula that many tried to replicate following Nadal and Djokovic's domination. Instead, he's a throwback player, with a big serve who frequently approaches the net after bamboozling foes with a curling slider. Almost every time, the curl forces his opponents to the other side of the court, allowing Draper to pick them apart.

A natural right-hander who plays with his left hand, Draper's backhand is basically a second forehand. The unconventional shot helps him create angles and power that confuse players who've never faced him. For example, Tomas Machac, in their fourth-round match, routinely found himself approaching Draper's backhand wing, only to be confounded when the ball trotted back like a thunderous forehand. While he isn't as nimble as some of his contemporaries, Draper has the advantage of a 6'5" frame and long wingspan, which helps him cover just enough distance to pack a punch.   

It remains to be seen how Draper will respond when players figure him out or push him to longer matches filled with exhausting rallies. The young Briton reminds this writer of 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro, who, too, possessed many unique traits but stopped being a walking crossword puzzle when opponents cracked his strengths and weaknesses.  

Draper will face Sinner in his first major semifinal on Friday. The 22-year-old is the first British man to reach the final four of the U.S. Open since Murray in 2012.