How Did Alcaraz Overcome Draper to Reach the Semifinals?
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Synopsis
Carlos Alcaraz's thrilling performance in Rome sees him advance to the semifinals of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia after defeating Jack Draper in straight sets. This victory not only boosts his ATP rankings but sets the stage for an exciting matchup in the semifinals against a formidable opponent.
Key Takeaways
- Alcaraz displayed remarkable resilience in his match against Draper.
- He rose to No. 2 in the ATP Rankings following this victory.
- Alcaraz's performance included 24 winners compared to Draper's 8.
- He converted all 4 break points during the match.
- Draper has shown significant growth on clay this season.
Rome, May 14 (NationPress) Carlos Alcaraz continued his thrilling journey in Rome by securing a spot in the semifinals of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, defeating Jack Draper in straight sets here on Wednesday. The Spaniard triumphed over Draper 6-4, 6-4 at the clay ATP Masters 1000, making a comeback from 2-4 to clinch the first set on Campo Centrale.
Although he lost an early break advantage in the second set, Alcaraz managed to rally and finish the match in one hour and 38 minutes.
This victory not only keeps him on track for his second Masters 1000 title of the year (after Monte-Carlo), but also guarantees that he will rise above Alexander Zverev to become No. 2 in the ATP Rankings on Monday. This places the 22-year-old as the second seed for the upcoming Roland Garros, where he is the defending champion. As the second seed, Alcaraz will be positioned in the opposite half of the draw from World No. 1 Jannik Sinner at the clay major.
With his Tour-leading 28th win of 2025, Alcaraz has reached the Rome semifinals for the first time in his second appearance. His next opponent will be either defending champion and second seed Zverev or local favorite Lorenzo Musetti.
Similar to his performances against Laslo Djere and Karen Khachanov in his previous matches, Alcaraz displayed a performance against Draper that oscillated between moments of shot-making brilliance and lapses that allowed his opponent to escape challenging situations. Nevertheless, Alcaraz found the consistency needed to fend off the fifth-seeded Brit.
The third-seeded Spaniard concluded the match with 24 winners against Draper’s eight, which compensated for his 29 unforced errors compared to his opponent’s 18. Alcaraz was also effective on his return, converting all four break points he earned in the match, as reported by Infosys ATP Stats. After defeating Draper in their first tour-level encounter on clay, Alcaraz now leads their ATP head-to-head series 4-2.
If Draper had won on Wednesday, he would have climbed above Taylor Fritz to No. 4 in the ATP Live Rankings. Despite the loss, he can take pride in another significant advancement in his clay career. Before 2025, he had secured only nine tour-level matches on this surface but has now doubled that total after reaching the second round in Monte-Carlo, the final in Madrid, and the quarterfinals in Rome.
Point of View
Carlos Alcaraz's impressive victory against Jack Draper highlights his growing strength on clay, positioning him as a serious contender for the upcoming Roland Garros. His ability to bounce back from challenging situations showcases not just talent but also mental fortitude, essential for any top athlete. NationPress continues to support the narrative of emerging sports talents in our coverage.
NationPress
20/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the scores of the match between Alcaraz and Draper?
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jack Draper with scores of 6-4, 6-4.
How does this victory affect Alcaraz's ATP ranking?
With this win, Alcaraz will rise to No. 2 in the ATP Rankings, surpassing Alexander Zverev.
Who will Alcaraz face in the semifinals?
Alcaraz will face either defending champion Alexander Zverev or local favorite Lorenzo Musetti in the semifinals.
What is Alcaraz's current win tally for 2025?
Carlos Alcaraz has achieved his Tour-leading 28th win of 2025 with this match.
How did Draper perform in the match?
Despite losing, Draper showed significant improvement in his clay performance, having doubled his tour-level wins on the surface this year.
