Jack Draper through to US Open Semi-Finals | Back Pages Tonight

Back Pages: A First Look at the Sports Stories in the Morning’s Newspapers

Welcome to Back Pages, where we bring you a first look at the sports stories in the morning’s newspapers. Tonight, we’re joined by Jason Bert, the chief football correspondent of The Telegraph, and RI Al Samurai, the chief Sports feature writer at the Daily Mail.

Tennis: Jack Draper’s Breakthrough Continues

The Guardian’s back page is dominated by a story that makes the headlines: Jack Draper reaching the semifinals of the US Open, with a similar picture and different angle on it. Draper’s American Dream also features on the back page, as does the headline "Tunes How Hint", which is based on quotes from an interview with Newcastle sporting director about an FA approach for Eddie Howe.

Jason Bert, chief football correspondent of The Telegraph, said: "The timing is fantastic, obviously with Andy Murray retiring, we were just wondering what was going to happen with men’s tennis and whether or not anyone could fill that void. And to have Jack Draper make this incredible run in the US Open, he’s just fantastic and gives everyone a lift in terms of tennis and the future of tennis."

RI Al Samurai, chief Sports feature writer at the Daily Mail, added: "It’s a remarkable story, isn’t it? Jack Draper, 22 years old, says he almost quit the sport trying to get through the future circuit. He’s got this fantastic serve, he’s got a brilliant backhand, and he’s going out and attacking this opportunity now. What we would say is that he’s had a reasonably kind draw so far, but coming up in the next round, it’s either going to be Yanik Sin or Medvedev, and that’s going to be a vast step up."

Golf: Rory McIlroy and Scotty Scheffler Set to Clash

The Daily Mail’s back page features a story about Rory McIlroy and Scotty Scheffler set to clash with Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau in a TV battle as the match pits live golf versus PGA Tour. RI Al Samurai said: "It’s a little bit gimmicky, but it’s a bit of fun. It’s going to be maroy and Scheffler versus kepo and DeChambeau, and it’s going to be in Vegas in December. The interesting aspect here is the political backdrop, with the ongoing merger negotiations between the two tours."

Football: Chelsea’s 76 Million Pound Sale of Two Hotels

The Premier League has cleared Chelsea’s 76 million pound sale of two hotels to avoid a breach of the Profit and Sustainability Rules. Jason Bert said: "It’s getting hugely complicated for the Premier League, isn’t it? Not only do you need accountants, but you probably need real estate people now to value property and work out the nuances of the laws."

Paralympics: Dame Sarah Storey’s 18th Gold Medal

The Guardian’s website features a story about Dame Sarah Storey winning her 18th gold medal for GB women, with some of those medals won as far back as the 1992 Olympic Paralympics in Barcelona. RI Al Samurai said: "It’s a remarkable story, isn’t it? Some of those medals were won as far back as 1992, and in 2024, she’s winning gold medals on a bicycle. It’s a remarkable story, and hope for us all, inspirational and inspirational."

That’s all for tonight’s Back Pages. Join us again Thursday for more sports news and analysis.