Carlos Alcaraz vs Jack Draper: Quarterfinal Clash at the Italian Open
Carlos Alcaraz is gearing up for a high-stakes quarterfinal matchup against Jack Draper at the Italian Open in Rome. The Spaniard is mindful of the threat Draper poses—especially since the Brit defeated him less than two months ago in Indian Wells. Now, both players are set to collide once again on Wednesday, each aiming for a spot in the semifinals. The question remains: will Draper repeat his past success, or will Alcaraz reclaim dominance?
<strong>Season So Far: Alcaraz’s Journey</strong>
Alcaraz started his 2025 season with a strong showing in Australia, making it to the quarterfinals before losing to Novak Djokovic. He then secured his first indoor hard-court title in Rotterdam, beating Alex de Minaur in a tight three-set final. A solid performance in Doha saw him reach the quarterfinals once again, maintaining early-season momentum.
However, his campaign at Indian Wells didn’t go as planned. Attempting a historic three-peat, Alcaraz was stopped in the semifinals by none other than Jack Draper, who beat him 6-1, 0-6, 6-4. Things got worse in Miami, where he was upset by David Goffin in the opening round. Alcaraz bounced back by capturing the Monte Carlo Masters title, defeating Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 in the final.
He came close to winning another title in Barcelona but was halted by Holger Rune in the final. Now in Rome, Alcaraz has looked sharp, dispatching Dusan Lajovic, Laslo Djere, and Karen Khachanov en route to the quarterfinals.
<strong>Jack Draper’s 2025 Campaign</strong>
Draper, too, has had an eventful season. He reached the fourth round at the Australian Open before withdrawing from a quarterfinal clash against Alcaraz due to injury. He followed that up with a runner-up finish at the Qatar Open, losing to Andrey Rublev.
His breakthrough came at Indian Wells, where he captured his first ATP Masters 1000 title by defeating Holger Rune in the final. However, his inconsistency showed in Miami and Monte Carlo, with early exits in both tournaments. In Madrid, he made another deep run, reaching the final before losing to Casper Ruud.
In Rome, Draper began his campaign with a straight-sets win over Luciano Darderi. He then defeated Vit Kopriva in the Round of 32 and rallied to overcome Corentin Moutet in three sets to reach the quarterfinals.
<strong>Head-to-Head Record</strong>
Alcaraz and Draper have faced each other five times on the ATP Tour, with Alcaraz leading 3-2. Their most recent encounter was at the Indian Wells semifinals, where Draper emerged victorious. Here’s a breakdown of their past meetings:
2025 Indian Wells SF: Draper won 6-1, 0-6, 6-4
2025 Australian Open R16: Alcaraz led 7-5, 6-1 (Draper retired)
2024 Queen’s Club R16: Draper won 7-6(3), 6-3
2023 Indian Wells R16: Alcaraz led 6-2, 2-0 (Draper retired)
2022 Basel R32: Alcaraz won 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
<strong>Performance Stats</strong>
Statistically, Alcaraz has a slight edge over Draper this season. He has won 27 of his 32 matches (84.37%), while Draper has claimed 22 wins out of 27 matches (81.48%). Both have shown strong form but also moments of inconsistency.
As for the Italian Open, both players are looking to improve on previous performances. Alcaraz exited in the third round last year, while Draper lost in the opening round to Daniil Medvedev.
<strong>Playing Styles</strong>
Alcaraz is known for his athleticism, quick movement, and exceptional drop shots. His ability to stretch rallies and hit powerful groundstrokes makes him a formidable opponent. Draper, meanwhile, excels from the baseline and uses his slice serve effectively to gain points. He also has solid court coverage, making him tough to break down.
<strong>Prediction: Alcaraz to Win in Three Sets</strong>
Though Draper has proven he can beat Alcaraz, the Spaniard enters this matchup as the favorite. His recent performances and slightly better consistency tilt the odds in his favor. Expect a competitive match, but Alcaraz is predicted to edge out Draper in three sets and move on to the semifinals.