Jack Draper Aims for Semi-Finals at Madrid Open

Madrid, Spain — Jack Draper is on the brink of a significant achievement at the Madrid Open. The British No. 1 is set to face Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in the quarter-finals on Thursday, May 1, 2025, with the chance to leapfrog Novak Djokovic in the ATP Rankings.

Draper reached his first quarter-final of the Madrid Open after a dominant performance against Tommy Paul on Wednesday. He won the match 6-2, 6-2 in just 67 minutes, showcasing exceptional skills on the clay surface of Court Arantxa Sanchez.

During the match, Draper, currently ranked No. 6 in the world, struck 20 winners while keeping his unforced errors to just 11. Conversely, Paul struggled, committing 31 unforced errors and hitting only seven winners. Draper’s performance was a notable improvement, as he had not won against a top-20 player on clay prior to this match.

With world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz absent from the tournament, Draper is now the highest-ranked player left in the draw. He was only 300 points behind Djokovic, who was eliminated early in the tournament, providing Draper with a unique opportunity to move up the rankings.

“It has taken hard work to get here,” Draper told Sky Sports. He emphasized the importance of confidence and momentum at this level of competition. “I know I can play well on this surface. This year, I’ve aimed to improve and prove I can succeed.”

If Draper beats Arnaldi, he will earn enough points to rise to No. 5 in the world rankings. His current points total stands at 3,990, and a victory would increase his tally to 4,190. Winning the tournament would propel him further to 4,790 points.

Should he advance past Arnaldi, Draper could potentially face fellow contender Alex de Minaur in the semi-finals. De Minaur could also challenge for top points, but his path may depend on defeating other strong competitors.

Draper’s path in this tournament marks a significant step for the young player who has found form and confidence on clay. As he prepares for his match against Arnaldi, all eyes will be on the British player and his quest for a spot among the top players in the ATP Rankings.