Alex de Minaur in 'horrible' scenes as tennis fans call out glaring detail in US Open exit

Alex de Minaur has admitted he was once again hampered by injury as he crashed out of the US Open in straight-sets in the quarter-finals, going down 3-6 5-7 2-6 to Jack Draper. The Aussie's wait to make a maiden grand slam semi-final will linger on after he struggled with his fitness on Wednesday against Draper (Thursday Australian time).

De Minaur came into the US Open after injuring his hip at Wimbledon, which meant he hadn't played any singles competition leading into the New York grand slam. The issue didn't appear to bother him as he marched into the quarters, but on Wednesday he was clearly struggling.

The Aussie's serve and forehand completely abandoned him, with Tim Henman noting in commentary that de Minaur appeared to be struggling to reach up when serving. The World No.10 clutched at his leg on occasions throughout the match while trying to transition in points.

But at other times he flew around centre court with his signature lightning speed. It was actually Draper who took a medical timeout in the second set to get some strapping on his leg, but the Brit showed no signs of impairment as he produced a number of monster ground strokes.

Alex de Minaur admits he was hampered by injury

Draper delivered a masterclass to knock out Australia's last remaining singles player in the draw. In doing so, he became the first man since 2020 to reach the final four at the US Open without dropping a set.

"It's amazing. On the biggest court in the world, it's a dream come true for me," Draper said afterwards. "I played a solid match and I feel the best fitness-wise that I've felt in a long time.

"That's where Alex has got me in the past. I also think he was struggling a little bit today with something and that helped me a little bit. But credit to Alex, he's an unbelievable player and fighter, and we're going to have many more battles to come."

Speaking in his post-match press conference, de Minaur admitted he wasn't 100 per cent. "I just want to say I'm very proud of myself, of what I have achieved, all things considering, doing everything I could to be in this position. Today it wasn't meant to be," he said.

"Jack is never easy to play in the best of times, and the way he can spread the court, being a lefty and really move you around the court, it takes a toll on the body. Accumulation of matches takes a toll as well. But he played well. He deserves the win. He moved me around the court, and served great. In the few chances that I had, I wasn't able to execute."

Despite being in pain, the Aussie said it never crossed his mind to retire hurt. "It's not part of me, part of my DNA," he said. "I don't like it, if I'm honest. I'm always going to give my best. And, look, it could have been naive of me, but I genuinely thought that there was a chance even in that last game going in.

"I thought that there was a chance that I was going to change the match around and go out there and win it. So at every stage in that match, I gave myself a shot, with my attitude, with my mindset, to go out there."

Draper blasted 40 winners in the match, and he broke de Minaur's serve six times. The 25th seed is the first British man to reach the semis at the US Open since Andy Murray won the title back in 2012.

The Brit's reward is a first career grand slam semi-final appearance, which will come on Friday against either World No.1 and reigning Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner or fifth-seeded 2021 US Open winner Daniil Medvedev. Fans took to social media to note that de Minaur didn't appear 100 per cent, with some describing it as "horrible" and "sad" that his campaign was ended by injury issues.

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Karolina Muchova marches into US Open women's semi-final

Earlier, Unseeded Czech player Karolina Muchova stormed into the women's semis in just her sixth tournament back from suffering a wrist injury at last year's US Open. Muchova beat Brazilian player Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1 6-4 to reach the New York semi-finals for a second consecutive year.

Muchova, who only returned to action in June, needed medical treatment on multiple occasions during the second set but held on to dispatch the Brazilian 22nd seed in 85 minutes. "A little weird match, I have to say," Muchova said in her on-court interview after reaching her fourth career grand slam semi-final.

"I had little problems, I wouldn't like to comment on it actually if it's fine. But I'm happy I managed it, to run to the bathroom and back. Sorry if it disturbed anyone, but I had no other choice."

with AAP