Jack Draper recovers to break new ground again at Rome Open, sets up Carlos Alcaraz tie

Jack Draper is slowly becoming a clay court master and also the master of avoiding adversity with the Madrid Open champion finding his way past Corentin Moutet to reach the Quarter-Finals.

Draper recovered from a poor opening set to win through 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 as he showed grit to avoid the French showman causing a shock.

He is now the youngest British player in the opening era to reach the Quarter-Finals of the Rome Open on clay, this of course eclipses his predecessor in the British stakes in Andy Murray.

After losing the first set 6-1, Draper returned to the foray and when presented with his chance he took it to the hilt. He broke for 5-3 and despite losing the next game, he broke back for the set and to claim the impetus.

It was a similar story in the decider just without a break back. Draper broke to make it 5-3 and Moutet wasn’t able to break back and the Brit sealed it.

The World No.5 now likely faces Carlos Alcaraz in the Quarter-Finals. A dynamite tie awaits.

The Spaniard recovered after losing the second set for much more of a stable effort.

He saw off Karen Khachanov 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 and keeps his charge alive. He improves against the Russian to 5-0 in their Head to Head.

He had issues at times getting over the line. He let a break lead slip in both the second and third sets including from 6-3, 3-2 up but recovered to maintain his record. He has now advanced like Draper to the Quarter-Finals for the first time. He is the first Spaniard to make the last eight in Rome since Rafael Nadal in 2021. Alcaraz leads his head-to-head with Draper 3-2. Draper won their most recent meeting at Indian Wells en route to the title.