Carlos Alcaraz Sends ‘Revenge’ Warning to Jack Draper Ahead of Italian Open Quarterfinals

Carlos Alcaraz became the first Spanish man to advance to the Italian Open quarterfinals since Rafael Nadal in 2021.

Carlos Alcaraz Sends ‘Revenge’ Warning to Jack Draper Ahead of Italian Open Quarterfinals

Jack Draper, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via ATP/X)

Carlos Alcaraz has made it to the quarterfinals of the Italian Open for the first time. On Tuesday (May 13), the Spaniard, after winning the first set, dropped the second one against Karen Khachanov. Momentum kept shifting in the third set but Alcaraz recovered just in time to secure a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win in two hours and 29 minutes.

With this win, Alcaraz improved his head-to-head record over the Russian to 5-0. He is now gearing up to take revenge on Jack Draper, who was the reason behind his exit at the Indian Wells Masters.

Yeah, I just want to take revenge from Indian Wells. I will try to be more ready than Indian Wells. It is going to be an interesting match to watch and to play.

Carlos Alcaraz told reporters

The in-form British ace, who came from a set down to beat Corentin Moutet in the last 16 in Rome, denied the four-time Grand Slam champion a chance to defend his title in the Californian desert with a three-set win in the semifinals. He then beat Holger Rune in the final to lift the title.

In the head-to-head meetings, Alcaraz edges the 23-year-old 3-2. The upcoming match will be their third clash this season following Indian Wells and the Australian Open fourth round, which Alcaraz won before losing to 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals.

Draper has reached two finals this season so far. After capturing the biggest title of his season, the World No.5 lost to two-time French Open finalist Casper Ruud in the final of the Madrid Open. He will rise to a career-high No.4 ranking if he beats the reigning French Open champion in the last four.

The 22-year-old has now reached the quarterfinals of every nine Masters 1000 tournaments. He also became the first Spaniard to progress to the last eight at the Italian Masters 1000 since the 10-time tournament champion Rafael Nadal in 2021.

Carlos Alcaraz analyzes his Indian Wells semifinal match against Jack Draper

Jack Draper handed Carlos Alcaraz a ‘breadstick’ in the first set of the Indian Wells semifinal. Alcaraz, in turn, bageled him in the second set.

Jack Draper
Jack Draper (via X/ATP)

But in the third set, Draper did not let Alcaraz capitalize on the momentum, eventually securing a berth in the final with a 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 win. Alcaraz, after his fourth-round win in Rome, recalled that error-strewn performance and said the most important thing against Draper this time would be to start the match well.

I recall starting very, very poorly, was very nervous at the beginning. I had to make some changes. I was also struggling physically in the second set. We didn’t do anything spectacular.

Carlos Alcaraz said at the press conference

In Rome, Alcaraz is chasing his third title of the season. If he wins, it will be another career’s first title for him as this season, he became a champion at the Rotterdam Open and the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time.

Apart from these two tournaments, Alcaraz also made it to the Barcelona Open final, but lost the match to Holger Rune. If Alcaraz reaches the semifinal, he could set up a clash with World No.2 Alexander Zverev, who went past Arthur Fils to set up a quarterfinal clash with Lorenzo Musetti.

In the final, Alcaraz is projected to meet World No.1 Jannik Sinner, who beat Francisco Cerundolo to reach the quarterfinals of his home tournament for the second time (after 2022). Alcaraz edges the three-time Grand Slam champion 6-4 in their head-to-head meetings and had won the last three official matches they played against each other last year.

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