The US Open semifinal between Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper was expected to be a thrilling showcase of tennis brilliance. Fans were eager to see these two powerhouses go head-to-head at Arthur Ashe Stadium. But the drama that unfolded wasn’t about blistering rallies or incredible serves—it turned into a battle of health. Both Sinner and Draper found themselves struggling physically, with their health taking center stage.

The first set of the match witnessed smooth flow from the beginning to the end with the Italian dynamo eventually winning it 7-5. But as the match advanced to the second set, a series of health crises started to emerge. Playing against Sinner, Draper threw up during his serve on the court, owing to extreme conditions. However, he was quick to respond and asked for a towel to clean up the court. Shockingly, just minutes after the incident, the health crisis shifted to Sinner.

The Italian tennis sensation fell on the court during a point in the same set and seemed to struggle with his wrist. While he eventually won the point, he was spotted in immense pain before being seen by his physio in the match. Eventually, the set ended after a neck-to-neck fight with Sinner winning it 7-6(3). For Draper, similar health woes emerged in his previous match as well.

Playing against Alex De Minaur in the quarterfinals, Draper faced some physical struggles. During the third game of the second set, the physio was seen waiting courtside. While initially it was assumed that he had stepped in for the Aussie player, he was later spotted strapping Draper’s knee as he was struggling. The series of physical struggles during major events is not new for Sinner either. 

The World No. 1 faced some struggles during the quarterfinal match against Daniil Medvedev at Wimbledon. As the Italian dynamo was one down to two against Medvedev, he opted for a medical timeout. He was visibly struggling with his mobility before he headed to the sidelines and called for his physio David Pires as he reportedly complained of an injury. 

Sinner and his physio were soon joined by the SW19 doctor who seemed to check his heart rate. This left tennis fans perplexed as Sinner was seen holding his head in his hands and was seemingly feeling unwell. Eventually, the struggles cost him the match and he witnessed a major heartbreak in the five-setter drama. While the fate of this match fell in his favor, Sinner has previously explained how such physical challenges have impacted his tennis.

When Jannik Sinner revealed the challenges he faced previously due to health issues

The 23-year-old witnessed a major heartbreak when he missed playing at the Paris Olympics after suffering from fever and tonsilitis. While his withdrawal was a major disappointment, many in the tennis community alleged him of lack of desire and love for his country. Sinner, meanwhile, slammed the critics in a recent interview and shed light on his struggles. 

The editor-in-chief of Ubi Tennis, Giovanni Pelazzo, reported Sinner to let his true emotions out over the accusations. When quizzed about the remarks that accused him of not making ‘extra effort to go to Paris,’ Sinner responded vehemently. “It’s a question I don’t even want to have to answer honestly. I think only my team and I really know how I felt: from the outside, it’s one thing, from the inside it’s another. I especially know how I felt.” Continuing further, Jannik Sinner shared that he “wasn’t even able to get out of bed” due to his illness.

As both players once again find themselves surrounded by physical challenges, it would be interesting to see who overcomes these woes and cruises through the final match.