\n<\/p>\n
A series of composed performances had seen Draper break new ground in New York, moving into the semi-finals without dropping a set.<\/p>\n
While he had played cooly and clinically, there was a question mark about how the left-hander would fare against an opponent of Sinner\u2019s class.<\/p>\n
Draper\u2019s first four opponents were ranked below him – and he avoided playing Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz in the third round following the French Open and Wimbledon champion\u2019s shock defeat in round two.<\/p>\n
Quarter-final opponent Alex de Minaur, seeded 10th, was hampered by fitness problems, too.<\/p>\n
In the opening exchanges of the semi-final, Draper pushed Sinner – who has seemingly put behind him the controversy surrounding the revelation he failed two doping tests earlier this year – but three double faults proved costly as the Italian broke decisively for 6-5.<\/p>\n
Then, tension mounted for Draper in a bizarre second set.<\/p>\n
While clearly struggling, he continued to hang onto his serve in the face of four break opportunities for Sinner before twice being sick on court after points.<\/p>\n
In a madcap ninth game, his vomit caused the match to be briefly paused while the surface was cleaned, before Sinner fell retrieving a return near the advertising board behind the baseline and damaging his left wrist in the process.<\/p>\n
Both men required treatment at the same time – a rare sight.<\/p>\n
Sinner upped the ante in the tie-break, thumping groundstrokes to push Draper back behind the baseline, and drawing mistakes to move into a two-set lead.<\/p>\n
The uphill task facing Draper – watched on by his family, including mother Nicky whose flight from London landed in New York at 2am earlier on Friday – appeared insurmountable.<\/p>\n
Draper showed resilience to continue fighting against the best player in the world, refusing to retire like he had to do on several occasions earlier in his career.<\/p>\n
But his resolve finally wavered as Sinner rattled off the final four games to secure victory in three hours and three minutes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n