Draper's impressive run no surprise to anyone - including opponent Rublev

IT IS a mark of the standing in which Jack Draper is held in the sport that no one who has watched him on his way to the fourth round of the US Open is in the least bit surprised.

- Simon Cambers

And no one, from his fellow players to coaches and commentators, is saying he cannot continue his adventure, even though his next opponent in the last 16 today is the No8 seed Andrey Rublev, a man with significantly more experience.

That includes Rublev, who will be trying to make the quarter-finals of a slam for the ninth time in his career.

"Jack is a very talented player, he's playing really good," Rublev said ahead of their clash here in New York.

"We had a couple of matches which were really tough. I like his style of playing a lot. He has a huge serve, really great forehand, great backhand and can play aggressive. He has everything to become a top player." What makes Draper's run to the fourth round of a slam for the first time even more remarkable is that he had played barely any tennis over the past few months.