Jack Draper Faces Corentin Moutet at Italian Open Round of 16

Rome, Italy – British No. 1 Jack Draper continues his push for a second title of the year today as he faces Corentin Moutet in the round of 16 at the Italian Open.

Draper has had a strong showing in the tournament so far, winning all his matches without dropping a set. He claimed victories over Luciano Darderi and Vit Kopriva, beating both in straight sets. The young Brit advanced after defeating Kopriva 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday, though not without incident. Draper received a code violation for smashing his racket in frustration after missing four break points in the second set.

“It was a tough match,” Draper said. “I tried to fight hard and find a way. The frustration boiled out a little bit too much in the end.” He added that fatigue from a busy tournament schedule may have contributed to his momentary lapse.

Meanwhile, Moutet, who is ranked nine spots higher than Kopriva, has established himself as a formidable opponent in Rome. The French player has already upset world No. 9 Holger Rune and world No. 21 Ugo Humbert earlier in the tournament. His match against Rune was particularly grueling, lasting over three hours and 45 minutes.

The match is set to begin at 10 a.m. BST and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Fans in the UK can also stream the match online via the Sky Go app and NOW. Draper expressed excitement about the encounter, noting he has admired Moutet since junior competitions.

Preparations are underway as both players warm up for their first career meeting. Draper, ranked No. 5 in the world, aims to capitalize on Moutet’s taxing previous match while also managing his own energy levels.

“I feel good, my game is in a good place,” Draper said. “But I need to stay patient and focused.” As the match approaches, tennis fans are eager to see if Moutet can continue his giant-killing streak against the rising star Draper.