With a series of controlled performances, Draper broke new ground in New York and reached the semi-finals without dropping a single set.

Although he had played coolly and clinically, the question was how the left-handed player would fare against an opponent of Sinner’s level.

Draper’s first four opponents were ranked lower than himself. He also avoided playing Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz in the third round after the Roland Garros and Wimbledon winner had surprisingly lost in the second round.

Alex de Minaur, seeded tenth, also struggled with his condition.

In the opening stages of the semi-final, Draper dismissed Sinner, who tested positive for a banned substance earlier this year. However, three double faults proved costly for the Italian, who won the match with a decisive 6-5 break.

Then the tension mounted for Draper in a bizarre second set.

Although clearly struggling, he held serve despite four break chances for Sinner, before twice being taken off the court sick after points.

In the ninth game, when everything went wrong, the game had to be stopped briefly to clean the court because of his vomiting. Then the 23-year-old Sinner fell while picking up a ball near the advertising board behind the baseline and injured his left wrist.

Both men had to be treated at the same time, which is rare.

Sinner raised the stakes in the tie-break by groundstroke-ing Draper back behind the baseline, making mistakes to take a two-set lead.

The daunting task facing Draper, overseen by his family, including his mother Nicky, who had landed in New York from London at 2am on Friday, seemed insurmountable.

Draper showed resilience by continuing to fight against the best player in the world and refused to give up, as he had been forced to do several times earlier in his career.

But his resolve eventually wavered as Sinner completed the final four games to secure victory in three hours and three minutes.

“Jannik always plays at such a high level. I’ve had chances here and there and I haven’t taken them,” Draper said.

“I clearly wasn’t feeling at my best and struggled at certain points in the match, but Jannik beat me fairly.”