While the fit left fashion fans divided, it seemed to confirm the old saying that when you look good, you feel good—and Draper has been feeling great as he’s unveiled the best tennis of his life in New York.
“I feel very different to last year,” Draper reflected after his win over De Minaur. “I barely played any tennis in the year, struggling with injuries all the time, and then obviously came here…I was still very nervous and unsure before matches. You know, whether I would get through this one. Am I going to cramp in this one? Am I going to break down physically in this one, get injured or something like this?
“Now, I’m not waking up every day worried about playing five sets. I have so much more confidence in my mind and my body through experiences of playing on the tour now this year consistently… I’m learning and understanding myself better all the time.”
No. 25 seed Draper will face No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner on Friday in the semifinals, as he attempts to become the first British player since Murray in 2012 to reach the US Open final.
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