"I think I’ve been through a lot the last few years": Jack Draper reveals considering retirement after cementing US Open quarterfinal berth

Britain’s tennis star Jack Draper has revealed that he was close to retiring from the sport after booking his place in the last-eight of the US Open. The fourth and final Grand Slam of the year is moving towards its business end where remaining players are giving their all to secure the ultimate prize.

Draper is one of the players who managed to qualify for the last eight in New York after beating Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-1, 6-2. Talking after the match, the Sutton-born star revealed that he was very close to retiring from the sport some time back and even sending a ‘stinky’ message to Britain’s Andy Murray.

“I obviously miss Andy. Shoutout to Andy,” he said. “What an incredible career the guy has had. You know, just an icon of the game. I miss him in the changing rooms, I miss being next to his stinky shoes and all his stinky clothes. But Andy’s a legend and if I have half the career he’s had then I’ll be a happy man. “I think I’ve been through a lot the last few years with injuries and, you know, there was times when I was maybe gonna stop playing tennis and all this sort of stuff. And I remember those moments all the time and those moments make the new experiences easier for me and I feel very confident in myself, I feel like I’ve learned a lot about what I’m capable of and also as I said, I’ve got amazing people around me to support me and show me the way.”

It will be Draper’s first-ever appearance in the quarterfinal of any Grand Slam. He is set to face Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the last-eight clash. The Sydney-born star defeated fellow countryman Jordan Thompson with a score of 6-0, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.