British tennis star Jack Draper has lost to Italy’s Jannik Sinner in his first grand slam semi-final at the US Open after being sick on court four times.
The 25th seed became only the fourth British man in the Open era to reach the semi-finals at New York’s Flushing Meadows.
But after battling hard in the first two sets, he lost in straight sets 7-5, 7-6, 6-2.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Jack Draper
Jannik Sinner. Pic: Reuters
The 22-year-old was the first British man to reach the last four in the US Open since Andy Murray won it in 2012.
Both men received treatment from their trainers during a hot and humid match.
The sheer physical exertion took its toll on Draper and he vomited several times, while Sinner, 33, needed his left wrist massaging after falling during a point he managed to win.
In comments after the match Draper, the British men’s number one, said his anxiety had played a role in him feeling unwell on the court.
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The 22-year-old was the first British man to reach the last four in the US Open since Andy Murray won it in 2012
He said: “I think obviously it’s a big occasion for me. I definitely felt, even though I generally feel pretty relaxed, I definitely felt more excited today, a few more nerves around.
“I’m definitely someone who is, I think, quite an anxious human being. I think when you add all that together, sometimes I do feel a bit nausea on court, and I do feel a little bit sick when it gets tough.
“I didn’t have any problems before the match, but it obviously just built up.”
Draper on the ground after the match. Pic: Sky Sports
He continued: “Being sick doesn’t help. You just feel worse and worse, because you can’t put anything in your body.
“When you’re playing long matches, you need to be able to drink and to eat things and give your body the supplies it needs to keep on going.
“But obviously when you’re feeling sick and stuff like that, you can’t put anything inside your body, because it just comes straight out, and it’s the worst feeling ever.
“You can’t move around the court when that happens.
“So no, it’s a horrible feeling, and you feel more dizzy and more sick the more you are.”
Pic: Sky Sports
Draper had announced himself as the new star of British tennis, stepping up as Murray retired from the sport this summer.
He had reached the last four without dropping a set.
He and Sinner are friends and played doubles together at the Canadian Open last month.
Pic: Reuters
Sinner said after his win on Friday: “Obviously it’s tough for Jack, for sure.
“Semis, they are a bit different to play, and in grand slams, finals are a bit different. You feel a lot of tension. It’s a bit different.
“But it was nice to share the court with him. Hopefully we have some more battles in the future, which I’m quite sure about that.
“He’s made his breakthrough this week a little bit, playing some amazing tennis, serving very well. Physically he has improved a lot.
“So he’s going to be very tough to beat in the future, for sure. I’m happy for him.”
Sinner will seek his second major championship on Sunday, facing either Taylor Fritz or Frances Tiafoe.
Earlier this year, Sinner failed two drug tests, but he was exonerated two weeks ago after saying trace amounts of anabolic steroid had entered his system unintentionally during a massage.
He previously won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open earlier this year.
