US Open 2022, 3rd Round, Friday, 02.09.2022
No Grand Slam without a surprise? You know it from the big stage: stars lose their nerve, others step into the breach. At the US Open 2022, a certain Jack Draper could slip into the second role.
The 20-year-old is in great form, and it so happens that he is promptly the favourite for his 3rd round. In my Khachanov Draper tip I reveal why I can understand Betano’s predictions and would also bet on the Brit!
20 years old, Jack Draper is competing on the big stage for the first time outside his native London. Difficulty acclimatising? Not with this youngster who has the makings of a big surprise!
In the last few months, he has shown his skills time and again, not for nothing is he on the verge of cracking the top 50. In New York, he not only won the first two matches, he did not drop a single set.
He got off to a flying start with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 win over Emil Rusuuvuori, suffering only one break and collecting five in five chances himself. A few days later he met a big player: Felix Auger-Aliassime!
The Canadian, often blessed with a lack of consistency, was the clear favourite, but Draper simply stuck to his line. He only managed three breaks in ten opportunities this time, but what happened on the other side?
Not once did he let Auger-Aliassime cheer on his service! In the end, Draper won 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, collecting one of the biggest wins of his young career. He already knew how to convince in the preparation, reached the quarter-finals twice in a row.
And indeed: It is enough to be named favourite against Karen Khachanov, after all runner-up at the Olympics.
In the first direct duel Khachanov should know: Here I am facing a damn unpleasant youngster. He himself has not yet come through this US Open without losing a set.
First he beat Denis Kudla 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, here he came back very strongly after losing the first set. Afterwards, he won 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 against Thiago Monteiro, here it was a bit closer.
The Russian gave both his opponents the chance to break 14 times in total, Jack Draper seems to be much safer here. At almost two metres, you have to be prepared for Khachanov to unpack 20 aces.
The number 31 of the world belongs to the extended top, but he has had better times. A 3rd round is his best result at the US Open so far, in the last two preparatory tournaments he managed a single victory.
Khachanov has been struggling for some time now, even nearly losing to Dominik Koepfer and Jan-Lennard Struff, both completely out of rhythm through injury, in the recent past.
My Khachanov Draper Tip
Jack Draper is playing such refreshing tennis that not a few believe: this young man could go all the way in New York! He beat Emil Ruusuvuori and Felix Auger-Aliassime outright!
What I also noticed in my analysis: He hardly allows any breaks. Karen Khachanov is by far not as rigorous here, which is why he won both games “only” with 3:1.
For the direct duel, I think of the young Brit. Draper has nothing to lose, debuts at the US Open and thrills the audience. Since Khachanov has never reached the last 16 at the Big Apple anyway, I’m betting:
Draper wins against Khachanov!
