British number one Jack Draper says he wants to be “more aggressive” as he takes on Botic van de Zandschulp in the third round of the US Open on Saturday.
The 22-year-old’s side of the draw has been blown wide open after title favourite Carlos Alcaraz was the subject of a seismic upset in New York, losing in straight sets to world number 74 Van de Zandschulp.
The Dutchman now stands between Draper and a place in the fourth round, with the pair up second on Grandstand at Flushing Meadows.
Draper says he has taken time to reflect on some of his narrow defeats earlier in the year to avoid history repeating itself.
“I took a real look at myself. I said, ‘I need to be more aggressive in certain moments’,” the 25th seed said.
“I think by losing the matches I did, especially there was a period where I lost three or four 7-6s on the trot against good players, I really felt like these guys aren’t going to let me win the match.
“I need to do it myself, and I need to play aggressively.”
If Draper can find a way past Alcaraz’s conqueror he could face Dan Evans in an all-British meeting. Evans takes on 10th seed Alex de Minaur in the first night session match on Louis Armstrong Stadium at midnight.
Evans played the longest match in US Open history on Tuesday when he defeated Russia’s Karen Khachanov in five hours and 35 minutes and he backed that up with a convincing straight-set win over Argentina’s Mariano Navone.
The 34-year-old will want to keep his 100% record against De Minaur intact, having beaten the Australian in all three of their previous encounters.
“I’ve played him a few times. I’m not sure the game style has been good for him, but it’s over five [sets], it’s totally different match,” Evans said.
“He’s obviously the favourite for that match.”
- Who else is in action on day six?
Two-time US Open champion Iga Swiatek kicks off the evening session on Arthur Ashe Stadium, which starts at 00:00 BST on Sunday.
Swiatek, who dropped just one game in her second-round win over Japan’s Ena Shibahara, takes on Russian 25th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
That will be followed by Daniil Medvedev, the men’s fifth seed and last year’s runner-up, continuing his bid for a second major title against Flavio Cobolli of Italy.
Earlier on the main Flushing Meadows show court, American home hope and sixth seed Jessica Pegula faces Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, the world number 74 who knocked out British women’s number on Katie Boulter on Thursday.
Top seed Jannik Sinner, who could potentially face Draper or Evans in the semi-finals, will then face Australia’s Christopher O’Connell.
Britain’s Joe Salisbury joins up with American Rajeev Ram to play compatriot Lloyd Glasspool and his Australian partner Rinky Hijikata in the second round of the men’s doubles.
There are four other Britons also in men’s, women’s and mixed doubles action on Saturday.