Jack Draper put on a dominant display in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open, defeating Matteo Arnaldi 6-0, 6-4 in just 77 minutes to secure a place in the semi-finals and move into the top five of the ATP world rankings for the first time. Draper’s victory was particularly impressive as he had only dropped 10 points in the opening set, which lasted just 25 minutes. The British No. 1 is now poised to claim his second Masters 1000 title in two months, following his triumph at Indian Wells in March. His performance on clay, which has long been considered his weakest surface, has been nothing short of exceptional, and his rapid rise continues to stun the tennis world.
Draper’s powerful game was simply too much for Arnaldi, who had previously stunned Novak Djokovic in the second round. Despite a stronger showing from the Italian in the second set, Arnaldi failed to create any break points. Draper’s relentless pressure and well-rounded game were on full display as he cruised to victory. He will now face Lorenzo Musetti in the semi-finals, after the Italian also won in straight sets against Gabriel Diallo. Draper expressed confidence in his game, noting that his physical and mental strength have improved significantly, allowing him to impose his game on his opponents, even on clay.
“I feel stronger every time I play,” Draper said after his match. “The last couple of years coming on to the clay I felt against these guys I’d always be the one on the back foot and I’d always be the one defending. The next part of my game was just getting strong, getting more capable physically to do the things I know I can do and bully these guys.” Draper’s progress has been evident, and his self-belief is growing with every match.
Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek is facing a period of uncertainty just weeks before the French Open. The defending champion, who has struggled with form in recent months, was comprehensively beaten 6-1, 6-1 by Coco Gauff in their semi-final. Swiatek, who has not won a title since last year’s Roland Garros, looked uncomfortable throughout the match, and her frustration was evident. The defeat marked her third consecutive loss to Gauff, with the American now having the upper hand on clay for the first time. Swiatek, who had been one of the most dominant players on the WTA tour for the past few years, has looked increasingly vulnerable in recent weeks.
Swiatek admitted that she had been struggling with her movement and overall game, which contributed to her heavy defeat. “I feel like I haven’t been moving well and the tennis was also on and off for most of the tournament,” she said after the match. “Today everything kind of collapsed tennis-wise. I wish I would have moved better. I know how I can move and usually I didn’t have to think about it much, but for the last weeks it hasn’t been that easy.” The loss was a bitter disappointment for the Pole, who walked off the court with her head bowed, clearly upset. The crowd’s jeers added to the sense of frustration, as she struggled to find her rhythm against a confident Gauff.
For Gauff, the win was a significant boost, and she took confidence from the victory. “Maybe it wasn’t her best level today, but I think I kind of forced her into some awkward positions,” she said. Gauff now has the chance to surpass Swiatek in the world rankings if she defeats Aryna Sabalenka in the final, a potential career milestone.
In the other men’s semi-final, Casper Ruud advanced with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Daniil Medvedev, and will face Francisco Cerúndolo, who ended Jakub Mensik’s impressive run in Madrid. With the women’s and men’s draws now heading into the final stages, the Madrid Open promises an exciting conclusion.
