US Open 2023: Jack Draper becomes first British player to reach fourth round, Cameron Norrie crashes out

Jack Draper beat American Michael Mmoh at the US Open in New York on Saturday to reach the fourth round.

He is the first British player to confirm his spot in the last 16 of the tournament after winning a tight four-set battle with Mmoh 6-4 6-2 3-6 6-3.

Draper took the match by the scruff of the neck in the opening exchanges at Flushing Meadows to go two sets up, but Mmoh threw a spanner in the works by taking the third set and forcing a fourth.

But Draper dug deep to get the job done on Grandstand, winning the decisive set for the loss of three games to book his spot in the last 16 – the first time he has reached the fourth round of a major tournament.

“I’m incredibly proud of myself,” he said. “It’s been a tough year, so to come here and make the fourth round, I’m so happy with myself.

“To all the people who have helped me, that’s what the celebration was for. It’s been a rough one for me but I’m so happy with the way I came out here today.

“These five-set matches aren’t easy. You win the first couple of sets and it looks relatively convincing and he starts picking up his level after a little break and the momentum changes.

“I had to stay strong, and wait for my opportunity in the fourth set and I took advantage of that. It was tough at the end but like I said, I’m very proud of myself.”

Draper will play either Andrey Rublev or Arthur Rinderknech in the next round.

The 21-year-old landed a decisive break in the opening set after a 24-shot rally to take a 4-3 lead, held his serve, and then broke Mmoh again with a fourth break point to secure the first set.

He took full control of the match with a break in the opening game of the second set and it started to look like an uphill battle for Mmoh.

The American reacted positively to push Draper all the way in the following game, although the Brit managed to hold in another disappointing moment for Mmoh.

A double-break for Draper saw his lead extend to three games and from there, Mmoh couldn’t catch him. After a couple of holds each, Draper smashed an ace down the middle which gave him a two-set buffer.

Mmoh fought back in the third set and Draper found himself down a break at 3-1, with the Brit becoming frustrated and the American crowd right behind Mmoh, the home player was spurred on to take the third set.

But it was all about Draper in a decisive fourth as he dictated the play with powerful shots and carefully navigated his way through a straightforward set for a landmark win.

Meanwhile, British No. 1 Cameron Norrie crashed out following an emphatic 6-3 6-4 6-3 loss to unseeded Italian Matteo Arnaldi.

Arnaldi stunned Norrie – the 16th seed – in three sets to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career.

Norrie had the chance to set up a match with world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who toppled Briton Dan Evans, but was completely dominated by the 22-year-old, who is appearing in just his third Grand Slam.