By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Rome’s red clay is a pivotal platform for Carlos Alcaraz.
When the third-seeded Alcaraz faces fifth-seeded Jack Draper in a blockbuster Rome quarterfinal clash, the Spanish superstar will be fueled by two major motivations.
The third-seeded Alcaraz conquered Karen Khachanov 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to reach his maiden Rome quarterfinal today. Alcaraz completed the quarterfinal set reaching quarterfinals or better at all four Grand Slams and every ATP Masters 1000 event.
Draper defeated Corentin Moutet 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 to advance to his third Masters 1000 quarterfinal of the year.
Alcaraz is seeking revenge from his disappointing Indian Wells semifinal loss to Draper and to secure the No. 2 seed for his Roland Garros title defense by reaching the Rome final four.
The pair have split two meetings this season with Alcaraz winning at the Australian Open where Draper retired with injury before the left-handed Briton beat the two-time Wimbledon winner in Palm Springs. Alcaraz, who has won three of their five meetings, says he’s eager to enact revenge.
“I’m just ready. I’m just looking forward to playing against him,” Alcaraz said of Draper. “He’s one of the best players in the world right now. The results shows how good is playing lately.
“Yeah, just want to take revenge from Indian Wells. I will try to be more ready than Indian Wells. Is going to be an interesting match to watch and to play.”
Commanding the center of the court with his forehand, Draper played with more fire and desire in the desert in what was his second win over Alcaraz in their last three meetings.
Last June, Draper defeated Alcaraz 7-6(3), 6-3 on the grass of Queen’s Club. That means if Draper downs Alcaraz in their Rome rematch he would own wins over the four-time Grand Slam champion on all three of the major surfaces in the past 11 months.
“Obviously I suppose we’re both in the top five in the world now. But I see it as just two guys who are playing great tennis going out there and wanting to win and beat each other and be competitive,” Draper said of facing Alcaraz in Rome. “I have big respect for him. I know what he’s going to bring. He’s going to be really tough to beat.
“I think we play tomorrow. So obviously there is a bit of a change in dynamic. I feel strong and I feel good about the match. I hope that I can bring some really good tennis.”
One of the world’s best movers on natural surfaces, Alcaraz has won 24 of his last 26 clay-court matches and carries a 12-1 record in dirt this season into the Rome quarterfinals, including his title run in Monte-Carlo last month.
While Draper’s ferocious forehand has helped him crack the Top 5, Alcaraz says the US Open semifinalist’s all-court ability is what makes him most dangerous.
“He’s really solid. He’s really solid,” Alcaraz said of Draper. “He’s really passionate. In every point, his shots are great, really aggressively.
“He’s trying to play as aggressive as he can, and that makes him really, really tough. Every point is a battle. Physically he improved a lot. With the serve, with everything, I mean, he’s really, really complete player.”
