British number one Jack Draper continued his superb form with a dominant 6-0, 6-4 win over Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi to book his place in the Madrid Open semi-finals — a result that will see him break into the world’s top five for the first time in his career.
The 23-year-old Englishman needed just 25 minutes to storm through the opening set, completely overwhelming the world number 44 with powerful, precise play. Although Arnaldi steadied himself early in the second set, Draper made the decisive breakthrough at 2-2 with a blistering cross-court winner to grab a crucial break.
From there, Draper remained composed, holding serve comfortably and sealing victory in just 77 minutes. In a near-flawless serving display, he dropped only 10 points on serve and did not face a single break point.
The win not only secures Draper’s spot in his first ATP semi-final on clay but also guarantees a historic rise in the rankings — leapfrogging Novak Djokovic to become a top-five player for the first time.
Draper will face Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti next, after the tenth seed saw off Canada’s Gabriel Diallo 6-4, 6-3 in his own quarter-final.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Draper reflected on his growth:
“I feel stronger every time I play. I used to be the one on the back foot, but now I’m physically capable of bullying these guys. I’ve been solid in all areas, and I’m excited to keep going.”
He also pointed to his aggressive mindset as key to his success:
“You see guys like Alcaraz and Sinner playing with no fear — that’s what I want. My forehand is doing a lot of damage. I know I can win or lose any match, and that fear keeps me sharp.”
Riding high after his Indian Wells triumph in March, Draper remains the highest-seeded player left in the draw and is now a serious contender for his first clay-court title.
