The Difference Between Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu's US Open Fairytales

Introduction

The 2021 US Open was a tournament of fairytales, with two young British players, Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu, reaching the fourth round and semifinals, respectively. Both players had incredible runs, but their stories were very different. Draper, a 19-year-old qualifier, upset some big names on his way to the fourth round, while Raducanu, an 18-year-old wildcard, shocked the world by winning the tournament. So, what were the differences between their two runs? Let's take a look.

Draper's Cinderella Story

Draper's run to the fourth round was a true Cinderella story. The 19-year-old qualifier had never won a match at a Grand Slam before, but he upset some big names on his way to the fourth round. He beat 15th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the first round, 23rd seed Aslan Karatsev in the second round, and eighth seed Casper Ruud in the third round. Draper's run came to an end in the fourth round, when he lost to Alexander Zverev in straight sets, but he had already made history by becoming the first British man to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam since Andy Murray in 2016.

Raducanu's Sensational Triumph

Raducanu's run to the semifinals was even more sensational than Draper's. The 18-year-old wildcard had never won a match at a Grand Slam before, but she upset some of the biggest names in women's tennis on her way to the semifinals. She beat 12th seed Belinda Bencic in the first round, 17th seed Maria Sakkari in the second round, 46th seed Sara Sorribes Tormo in the third round, 11th seed Shelby Rogers in the fourth round, and 10th seed Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals. Raducanu's run came to an end in the semifinals, when she lost to Leylah Fernandez in three sets, but she had already made history by becoming the first British woman to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam since Virginia Wade in 1977.

Similarities in Style

While Draper and Raducanu's runs to the fourth round and semifinals, respectively, were very different, their styles of play have some similarities. Both players are aggressive baseliners who like to hit big groundstrokes from the back of the court. They also both have good serves and volleys. However, there are also some key differences in their styles of play. Draper is a more powerful player than Raducanu, and he is more likely to hit winners from the baseline. Raducanu, on the other hand, is a more consistent player than Draper, and she is more likely to make her opponents make mistakes.

Conclusion

Draper and Raducanu's runs to the fourth round and semifinals, respectively, were both incredible stories. They both showed that they have the potential to be future stars of the game. Draper is a powerful baseliner with a big serve, while Raducanu is a consistent baseliner with a good all-around game. Both players have bright futures ahead of them, and it will be exciting to see how they perform in the years to come.