Jack Draper’s US Open mixed doubles run ends in semi-final defeat

Jack Draper narrowly missed out on an appearance in the new-look US Open mixed doubles final on Wednesday night.

The Briton and American Jessica Pegula went into the event as the top seeds and eased through to the last four on Tuesday, including beating Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz in the first round.

The pair looked poised for victory when they led 8-4 in a deciding tie-break against Swiatek and Ruud, only to lose out 3-5 5-3 (10-8).

But that’s where Swiatek and Ruud’s success ended, with Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori defending their US Open mixed doubles title.

The Italians beat Swiatek and Ruud 6-3, 5-7 (10-6), winning four matches over two days to earn $1 million — a huge raise over their earnings in New York last year in a format that looked nothing like this one.

Errani and Vavassori were among the many critics of the changes to the event that shut out every other traditional doubles pairing, but had nothing but smiles — and plenty of hugs — after building a quick lead in the match tiebreaker and holding on in front of a large crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The defending champions relied on their veteran experience to outfox the Polish-Norwegian duo. 

The same could not be said for Draper, who admitted he and Pegula had barely spoken to each other prior to forming a last-minute team, after his previous intended partners Zheng Qinwen and Paula Badosa both withdrew due to injury.

He was also apparently unaware of the American’s prowess in doubles, and she was the key player in the opening set, while Draper and Pegula seemed to have taken a stranglehold on the match when they also led by a break in the second set.

But Swiatek and Ruud came back into the contest, with Draper’s lack of doubles experience evident, and the Polish-Norwegian duo finished the match by winning six points in a row.

The radical change to the event with the aim of attracting the big-name players usually missing from grand slam doubles has been successful but controversial.

Draper was playfully chided by Pegula after describing it as an “exhibition” on Tuesday, but he had a different feeling in the semi-final.

“I think yesterday there was times where it felt a little bit more that way from our opponents,” the British No 1 said.

“Whereas tonight we were in the changing rooms, you’re seeing Iga and Casper, they’re fully dialled in. It was intense. We both wanted to win.”

Pegula added: “You can’t go out there at 7pm on Ashe knowing you could play the final, and feel like you’re just out there.”

The really serious business for Draper begins on Sunday, though, when the singles tournament starts, with the 23-year-old bidding to follow up last year’s achievement of reaching a more meaningful US Open semi-final.

Getting some competitive points under his belt on the big stage could yet prove important, however, given Draper has not played a singles match since Wimbledon because of an arm injury.

“I enjoyed the competition,” he said. “I loved it, playing alongside Jessica. I wasn’t expecting probably to have as good of a time as I did.

“Honestly, I thought we played great. Tonight was a tough match. They were on good form. But just overall a really positive experience. Loved playing with you. Hope to do it again.”