Jack Draper continues to impress on the ATP Tour as he now prepares for his semi-final match in Madrid.
The world number six entered this year’s Madrid Open having never previously reached a clay-court semi-final.
He’s now done so at one of the sport’s biggest tournaments, thanks to Draper’s win over Matteo Arnaldi in the last eight.
Photo by Alberto Gardin/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Draper will take on Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in the semi-finals, as he looks to qualify for his second Masters 1000 final of the season.
Following his quarterfinal win, the 23-year-old highlighted something he sees two of his biggest ATP rivals do regularly, that he’s trying to incorporate into his own game.
Jack Draper says he wants to ‘go after every ball’ like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz
During an interview with Sky Sports, Draper reflected on the development of his game over recent years, and pinpointed the improvement he needs to make to compete with the very best in men’s tennis.
“Backhand has always been a shot I can hit with my eyes closed, because I am right handed that has always come quite naturally to me,” he said.
“But the forehand has taken a lot of work, especially the first two years we started working together [with coach James Trotman], we were doing a lot of things technically on it to try and get the ball out in front, I was always hitting the ball late and short.
“I guess as things have progressed and as I have gotten more confident, I have believed in the shot a lot more and the consistency of doing the right things on it, day in and day out, and committing to every ball.
“I think as the levels go up, you have to have no fear. You see [Carlos] Alcaraz and [Jannik] Sinner, and they go after every ball without fear.
Photo by Manuel Queimadelos/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
“I am just trying to go after it, I suppose.”
The Brit then pointed out another area of his game he plans to work on, looking to fellow lefty Rafael Nadal for inspiration.
“If anything, I think I hit too many balls to the forehand,” said Draper.
“The righty’s, sometimes I don’t get my feet right and pull the ball into the backhand, someone like Rafa [Nadal] would go a lot more into the backhand.
“Maybe that is one area I am going to keep on trying to improve, but all in all, my forehand is doing a lot of damage out here and I have to keep that up.”
Photo by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images
Draper’s determination to improve should strike fear into his ATP Tour rivals, as he continues to rise up the rankings.
The Brit will debut in the top five next week, and if he can develop his game even further, then it wouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to see him challenge for the number one spot before too long.
Comparing Jack Draper, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner in 2025
Draper, Alcaraz, and Sinner have all accumulated 2,000 or more points in 2025, and are three of just four players to have done so.
- 1. Carlos Alcaraz – 2,740 points
- 2. Alexander Zverev – 2,275 points
- 3. Jack Draper – 2,040 points
- 4. Jannik Sinner – 2,000 points
- 5. Alex de Minaur – 1,685 points
- 6. Novak Djokovic – 1,530 points
- 7. Jakub Mensik – 1,530 points
- 8. Francisco Cerundolo – 1,515 points
- 9. Ben Shelton – 1,500 points
- 10. Holger Rune – 1,480 points
Each member of the trio has won a ‘big’ title this year, as they continue to produce their best tennis when it counts.
Jack Draper, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner in 2025
On his way to the Indian Wells title in March, Draper beat Alcaraz in the semi-finals, avenging his defeat from the Australian Open in January.
It was at the Australian Open that fans last saw the world number one in action before Sinner received his three-month ban.
Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
The three-time Major champion is set to make his return to action at the Italian Open next week, as will Alcaraz, who missed the Madrid Open due to injury.
It remains to be seen who will enjoy the best season out of the three, but it certainly looks like they’ll be tough to beat in 2025.
The 2025 Italian Open featuring Sinner, Alcaraz, and Draper is set to begin on Monday, May 5.