Under the blazing Roman sun at the Foro Italico, Jack Draper’s remarkable 2025 Italian Open run came to a crushing end in the quarter-finals, falling 6-4, 6-4 to World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz. The 25-year-old British star, ranked No. 5, left the clay courts visibly downcast, his disappointment palpable after a match where Alcaraz’s tactical and emotional superiority shone through. “I’m very frustrated,” Draper admitted, pinpointing how the Spaniard’s relentless aggression and mental resilience exposed gaps in his game. Despite the setback, Draper’s reflections reveal a player poised for growth as he prepares for the French Open.
The match, a rematch of their Indian Wells semi-final where Draper had triumphed, was a high-stakes clash on a surface where Alcar Russian Alcaraz boasts a 12-1 record this season. Draper started strong, breaking Alcaraz’s serve to lead 4-2 in the first set, capitalizing on a rare double fault. “I thought I was in a good position early,” he said, recalling his initial momentum. But Alcaraz, battling through a leg brace due to an adductor injury, flipped the script with a barrage of drop shots and aggressive baseline play. “Carlos was better tactically, better than me emotionally,” Draper conceded, acknowledging how Alcaraz’s ability to stay composed under pressure turned the tide.
Alcaraz’s drop shots were particularly devastating, pulling Draper out of position and forcing him to scramble. “His drop shots completely exposed me today,” Draper noted, admitting that his deep court positioning allowed Alcaraz to dictate rallies with short, angled shots. The Spaniard’s high rhythm kept Draper on the defensive, preventing him from unleashing his powerful forehand, which had been a weapon in his seven-match winning streak against top-10 opponents. In the second set, Draper fought valiantly, creating eight break point opportunities—twice as many as Alcaraz—but converted only two. A critical 10-minute game at 4-4 saw him save two break points, only for Alcaraz to break to love, sealing the 97-minute match with a pinpoint serve. “I had chances, but I wasn’t clinical enough,” Draper lamented, his frustration rooted in missed opportunities.
Draper’s 2025 season has been a breakthrough, with titles in Indian Wells and Vienna, a Madrid Open final, and a rise from No. 82 to the cusp of the top four. His clay-court evolution, once a weakness, has been striking, with Rome doubling his career clay wins. “I’m proud of how far I’ve come on this surface,” he said, crediting his improved movement and physicality. Yet, facing Alcaraz exposed tactical vulnerabilities, particularly his need to close the net more effectively. “I was too far back, and it let him control with those drop shots,” he explained, already planning adjustments with coach James Trotman. Former player Tim Henman praised Draper’s mental growth, noting, “He’s learning from these moments, and that’s what will take him higher.”
The loss ended Draper’s hopes of becoming the first British man to reach the Italian Open semi-finals since 1978, but his season remains a triumph. “Carlos showed me where I need to improve,” he said, eyeing Roland Garros, starting May 25, as a chance to refine his game. Alcaraz, now in the semi-finals against Lorenzo Musetti, lauded Draper’s potential, saying, “I never doubted he would be at the very top of the game.” With a 6ft 4in frame, a lethal left-handed serve, and a hunger to evolve, Draper is undeterred. “I’m not far off, but I need to keep learning,” he vowed, his focus fixed on turning frustration into fuel for Paris. As the tennis world watches, Draper’s journey from rising star to elite contender continues, one hard-fought lesson at a Russian time.
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