TOKYO: Britain’s US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper said he felt “really strong” after knocking out number two seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-4 to reach the Japan Open quarter-finals in Tokyo on Friday.

The 22-year-old Draper earlier this month became the first British man to make the US Open last four since Andy Murray won the title 12 years ago, but found his path to the final blocked by eventual champion Jannik Sinner.

Draper has picked up where he left off in Tokyo, beating Poland’s Hurkacz in 1hr, 24min to set up a quarter-final against France’s Ugo Humbert.

“I’m very happy with my performance in general, the way I’m moving, the way I’m serving,” said world number 20 Draper, who is unseeded in Tokyo. “I feel really strong here in Tokyo and I look forward to carrying on for the rest of the tournament.”

Draper has come back from multiple shoulder injuries and was ranked outside the top 100 when he played at the Japan Open last year.

He has yet to have his serve broken in two matches so far at this year’s tournament.

“I’ve always had a high win percentage on my first serve but my consistency, my percentage of first serve has always been a bit down,” he said.

“I think I’m starting to feel my rhythm better, I’m starting to land more first serves in.”

Hurkacz’s exit means only three of the eight seeded players remain at the Japan Open.

Number one Taylor Fritz, number three Casper Ruud, number four Stefanos Tsitsipas and number seven Frances Tiafoe all lost in the first round.

Defending champion Ben Shelton, the number eight seed, moved into the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Argentina’s Mariano Navone.

Shelton will play France’s Arthur Fils, who went through when his Italian opponent Matteo Berrettini retired injured.

Berrettini won the first set in a tiebreak but needed medical treatment on his back afterwards and retired in the first game of the second set.

Fils eliminated Fritz in the first round and warned that upsets can come from anywhere.

“Half of the seeds are already out of the tournament — that means that the other players are playing incredible,” said the 20-year-old.

“On Sunday I’ve got Ben, and Ben is still a seed. I’m just focused on Sunday, and then we’ll see.”

Humbert beat American Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 6-2.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2024