Jack Draper Survives Dramatic Corentin Moutet Tussle to Reach Italian Open Quarter-Final
According to a report by The Guardian, Jack Draper has reached the quarter-finals of the Italian Open after a thrilling 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Corentin Moutet. The match was marked by drama and anxiety, with Draper finding himself a set and a break down before mounting a stunning comeback.
The Guardian reports that Draper, the fifth seed in Rome, spent almost the entirety of the short break between sets shouting encouragement at himself. "I knew that I had to change a few things tactically," Draper said, as quoted by The Guardian. "I had to be there for every point, because his level wasn’t going to drop. I knew that. So I’m really, really happy with the way I problem-solved."
This impressive victory marks Draper’s eighth win in his past nine matches on clay, and his second consecutive Masters 1000 quarter-final on the surface. As noted by The Guardian, just three weeks ago, Draper’s best result on clay was two ATP 250 quarter-finals. However, he has now won eight of his past nine matches on the surface and reached consecutive Masters 1000 quarter-finals on clay following his run to the Madrid Open final.
Draper’s impressive form on clay has seen him establish himself as a force to be reckoned with on all surfaces. The Guardian quotes Draper as saying that he has "big respect" for his next opponent, Carlos Alcaraz, and is looking forward to their match. "We’re both in the top five in the world now, but I see it as just two guys who are playing great tennis going out there and wanting to win and beat each other and be competitive," Draper said.
Alcaraz, the reigning French Open champion and third seed, edged past Karen Khachanov 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals. As reported by The Guardian, Alcaraz is still finding his form in Rome, the only significant clay court title he is yet to win. However, he is confident ahead of his match against Draper, saying "I’m just ready. I’m just looking forward to playing against him. He’s one of the best players in the world right now. The results show how good he is playing lately. I just want to take revenge from Indian Wells."
The match between Draper and Moutet was marked by physical and mental challenges, with both players producing high-quality tennis. The Guardian notes that Moutet made use of every tool at his disposal, mixing in serve and volley attempts to great effect while dragging Draper to all parts of the court with a variety of spins, slices and drop shots. However, Draper’s immense resilience and problem-solving abilities ultimately paid off, as he navigated a path to a victory that represents another significant step forward in his development on clay.
In related news, Jannik Sinner has also reached the quarter-finals of the Italian Open, beating Francisco Cerundolo 7-6(2), 6-3. According to The Guardian, Sinner passed a big test in his return from a three-month doping ban, and is yet to drop a set in three matches. "Today I felt that I raised my level," Sinner said, as quoted by The Guardian. "It was a very long day … but I need this. I’m happy to be back. I was three months out, so every situation for me, I feel very fortunate to be here, very lucky."
The Guardian’s report also mentions that Draper’s win over Moutet was a significant step forward in his development on clay, and that he will face a tough test against Alcaraz in the quarter-finals. With this win, Draper has proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with on the ATP tour, and The Guardian notes that he is now consistently playing like an elite player on all surfaces.
The Guardian has more on this story and other updates from the world of tennis.
