Jack Draper was not in Rome just to fill a spot at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, and he certainly isn’t satisfied with only making it to the quarter-finals of this prestigious clay-court event.
The British player, currently ranked No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings, faced off against the talented Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday, but unfortunately lost in straight sets. After the match, Draper expressed his disappointment but showed a strong desire to improve.
Reflections on Performance and Future Goals
“I lost to a fantastic player today. I’m really not happy with how I played,” Draper admitted, noting that he has faced Alcaraz four times now, with a record of 2 wins and 4 losses. “Considering the tough four weeks I’ve had, it’s understandable to feel this way mentally and emotionally.”
“I don’t want to just be average. I want to be up there competing with the best,” he added. “This loss stings, but Carlos played excellently and deserved the win. Now, I need to regroup and prepare thoroughly for the French Open, hoping for more chances against top players like him.”
Despite the disappointment of the match, Draper can take pride in his remarkable start to the season. He has broken into the Top 5 for the first time and is currently ranked second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. His performance on clay has been particularly impressive, reaching his first final at this level in Madrid, where he lost to Casper Ruud.
In Rome, Draper had hoped to secure his second win of the season against Alcaraz after previously defeating him on the way to his Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells. However, he struggled to match Alcaraz’s level during their 97-minute match.
“I’ve been competing for the last four weeks straight,” Draper said when asked about fatigue’s impact on his loss. “I don’t want to admit it, but it likely played a significant role, not just today but throughout the week.”
“I’ve had a bit of trouble maintaining my game quality consistently. Against a player like Carlos, any drop in performance can cost you dearly. But at the end of the day, I lost to a better player today.”
Before 2025, Draper had only won nine matches on clay, but he leaves Rome having doubled that number after reaching the second round in Monte-Carlo, the final in Madrid, and now the quarter-finals in Rome.
“I’ve been playing some really good tennis,” Draper remarked, noting his impressive 22-6 record this season. “I’m proud of how I’ve handled the clay season so far. It’s been tough to keep the momentum going, but I know that to become a top player, I need to be consistent week after week.”
“I’m excited for Roland Garros because I haven’t performed well there in the past. This time, I see it as a great opportunity to showcase my skills and build on the momentum I’ve created. After today, I’m definitely eager to prove myself there.”