Third-seeded Carlos Alcaraz of Spain showcased his prowess on clay as he defeated Britain’s fifth seed Jack Draper 6-4, 6-4 in the men’s singles quarterfinals at the Italian Open in Rome on Wednesday.
Alcaraz faced a tough challenge from Draper, who had beaten him earlier this year. The 20-year-old Spaniard was pushed hard on his serve, saving six out of eight break points. Demonstrating remarkable agility and strategy, he frequently approached the net and utilized his signature drop shots and powerful groundstrokes.
After rallying from a 2-4 deficit to claim the first set, a pivotal moment came in the eighth game of the second set. Draper threatened to push the match into a decider, but Alcaraz held firm during a grueling 10-minute game, saving two break points. He then broke Draper to love in the following game, sealing his path to the semifinals.
“The most important thing I did today was not thinking about the shots at all,” Alcaraz said after the match. “I just tried to do the things that make me happy on court—being aggressive, playing good shots, drop shots, going to the net. That’s what I like to do, and I think that made the difference today.”
Next up for Alcaraz is Italy’s own Lorenzo Musetti, the eighth seed, promising an exciting semifinal clash.
In other action, sixth seed Casper Ruud of Norway defeated Spain’s Jaume Munar in a rain-delayed round of 16 match. Ruud built an early 4-1 lead in the opening set before claiming it 6-3. He maintained his momentum in the second set, breaking Munar again to complete the victory 6-4. Ruud will face home favorite and World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals.
