Jack Draper took a major stride in his clay-court development with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 win over Tommy Paul at the Madrid Open, advancing to his first Masters 1000 quarter-final on the surface. It was a landmark victory for Draper, his first against a top-30 opponent on clay and the first time he has strung together three consecutive ATP-level wins on the red dirt.
Despite being the highest-ranked player remaining in the draw, Draper is still relatively inexperienced on clay. He arrived in Madrid with a modest 10-12 record on the surface, having struggled to find consistency last year. However, this week has been a breakthrough. After an aggressive win against Tallon Griekspoor and a solid performance against Matteo Berrettini who retired with injury after the first set Draper produced his best display yet against Paul, the tournament’s 11th seed.
From the outset, Draper was the more composed and proactive player. Paul, by contrast, struggled to find rhythm, particularly on his forehand, which sprayed errors early on. Although Draper’s first serve percentage was low in the opening set hovering around 33% he more than compensated with excellent movement and defence. His heavy, high-bouncing topspin forehand repeatedly pushed Paul behind the baseline, forcing errors and creating space for winners.
With the first set secured, Draper settled into a more fluid rhythm on serve and began to dominate baseline exchanges with increasing authority. His forehand, already a potent weapon, became even more destructive, pinning Paul deep and dictating the flow of play. By the end of the match, Draper had fully overwhelmed the American, delivering one of the most convincing performances of his career.
Looking ahead, Draper will face Matteo Arnaldi in the quarter-finals. Arnaldi stunned Novak Djokovic in the second round and went on to defeat Frances Tiafoe in straight sets to book his place in the last eight. The match promises to be another test for Draper as he continues to build confidence and experience on clay.
Reflecting on his recent success, Draper expressed optimism about his future on the surface. He noted that although his professional clay-court record was limited, he had always felt comfortable playing on it from a young age. His recent performances appear to support that sentiment, and he hopes continued match play will help him further unlock his potential.
Elsewhere in the tournament, the women’s draw saw Coco Gauff advance to a much-anticipated rematch against Iga Swiatek. Gauff dispatched Mirra Andreeva in straight sets, while Swiatek mounted a comeback to beat Madison Keys after losing the first set 0-6.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week’s Italian Open in Rome, citing the need to reassess his approach amid a slump in form. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is on a three-match losing streak, and his exit from Madrid marks the fourth time in five events that he has lost his opening match.
Djokovic acknowledged that he is entering a new phase in his career, where expectations must be adjusted. He conceded that he no longer enters tournaments as a clear favourite and is instead focusing on smaller goals, such as winning a match or two. Despite these challenges, he remains committed to doing his best at the upcoming French Open, even if he is unsure of his form heading into Roland Garros.
