Jack Draper launches a charm offensive in the USA by channeling his inner Andre Agassi

Jack Draper channeled his inner Andre Agassi by wearing a pair of sneakers in honor of the American star after reaching the semifinals of the US Open.

The 22-year-old wasted no time in launching an American charm offensive, swapping his usual footwear for a pair of classic sneakers made famous by the eight-time Grand Slam champion during his on-court interview after agreeing a semi-final match with Jannik Sinner.

After reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 win over Alex de Minaur, Draper slipped into the retro shoes – the “Hot Lava”-colored Nike Air Tech Challenge II – made popular by Agassi in the 1990s.

While the American became synonymous with wearing the sneakers during his playing career, it is unlikely that Draper will compete in the shoes any time soon. His impromptu shoe switch was simply his way of winning over American tennis fans ahead of his semifinal showdown with Sinner.

The eye-catching sneaker, which combines the colors dark blue and pink, became known as the ultimate “tennis shoe” during Agassi’s career.

“I don't know how the hell he moved in those shoes. Honestly, I can't imagine slipping in them,” Draper said when asked about the footwear.

When asked if he would play there, he replied: “Absolutely not.”

The 25th-seeded Briton later posted photos of himself and Agassi on his Instagram account, describing Agassi as a player with “iconic style.”

Given that his victory over De Minaur required him to wear a bandage on his right thigh at the start of the second set, it would be unwise for Draper to change his choice of footwear before the most important match of his young career against number one seed Sinner.

Draper's fashion choice is not the first to cause a stir at this year's US Open, after Frances Tiafoe already caused a stir with his custom Air Jordan low tops.

Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka wore a pair of Harajuku-style bow-embellished Nikes to match her tutu “super suit,” which featured tulle, ruffles, and a giant bow.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.