Jessica Pegula Stuns Iga Swiatek At US Open As Home Hopes Surge, Jack Draper In Breakthrough

Jessica Pegula became the fourth American to reach this year's US Open semi-finals on Wednesday by stunning world number one Iga Swiatek as Jack Draper broke through to his first Grand Slam last-four. Pegula swept past 2022 champion and four-time French Open winner Swiatek 6-2, 6-4 to reach a maiden semi-final at the majors after falling in six quarter-finals. The 30-year-old will next face Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic. If she gets through that she would set-up an all-American title match should Emma Navarro stun world number two Aryna Sabalenka in Thursday's other semi-final. Draper, meanwhile, became the first British man to make the last four since Andy Murray won the title 12 years ago by beating Alex de Minaur of Australia 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.

The 25th seed will tackle either world number one Jannik Sinner or 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev for a place in Sunday's championship showdown.

Pegula has now won 14 times in 15 matches on US hard courts this summer.

"Finally I can say I'm a semi-finalist. I lost so many of these damn things," said the American after her fourth career win against Swiatek.

"Thanks to the crowd. I sent over a 65mph second serve (on a third match point) because I was so tight.

"I did everything I could to not get frustrated. I took advantage of some things she was not doing so well and just rode that momentum."

Swiatek was undone by 41 unforced errors.

Draper pulled off victory over 10th-ranked De Minaur despite taking a medical timeout early in the second set to have his right thigh bandaged.

"It's amazing. My first time on Arthur Ashe Stadium, it means the world to me," said Draper, who had lost three times in three meetings with De Minaur before Wednesday.

"I played a solid match and I