Carlos Alcaraz has expressed his clear intention to seek `revenge` when he faces Jack Draper in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open on Wednesday. The Spaniard is looking to avenge his previous defeat by the British player at Indian Wells.
Draper overcame Alcaraz in a memorable semi-final at Indian Wells, winning 6-1, 0-6, 6-4. This victory was a significant moment for the British number one, helping him break into the world`s top 10 rankings and reach his first Masters 1000 final. Following that, Draper went on to claim the BNP Paribas Open title, defeating Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2 in the final.
Now, after defeating Corentin Moutet in the last 16 in Rome, Draper is set for another challenging match against World No. 3 Alcaraz in the Italian capital. The quarter-final encounter is anticipated to be a compelling battle.
Alcaraz understands the challenge ahead, acknowledging that he will need his absolute best performance to defeat Draper. He described the British player as currently one of the “best players in the world” (referring to Draper`s ranking around World No. 5 at the time of the quote).
“I think his game is pretty much the same as it always is,” Alcaraz commented. “So I don`t think it is going to be that different from Indian Wells, so I just have to be ready for that.”
Alcaraz added, “I am looking forward to playing against Draper again. He is one of the best players in the world right now. He shows how good he is making the final in Madrid and he is playing great. I have been watching his matches lately and I know what he can play.”
He anticipates an exciting match for spectators: “It is going to be an interesting match for the fans and it is going to be a really beautiful match to watch. I am looking forward to playing against him and get the revenge for Indian Wells. I have to be ready, I need to play my A game if I want to beat him and we will see.”
Head-to-Head Stats
The Italian Open quarter-final marks the first time Draper and Alcaraz will compete on a clay court. They have met four times previously:
- Indian Wells Masters (2025 according to source) – Semi-final:
- Draper won 6-1 0-6 6-4
- Australian Open (2025 according to source) – Last 16:
- Alcaraz won 7-5 6-1 ret
- Queen`s Club Championships (2024) – Last 16:
- Draper won 7-6 [7-3] 6-3
- Indian Wells Masters (2023) – Last 16:
- Alcaraz won 6-2 2-0 ret
Miles Maclagan on Draper`s Form and Mental Strength
Speaking on Sky Sports Tennis, Miles Maclagan lauded Jack Draper`s current momentum, stating, “The winning habit in Jack Draper is strong right now.” He described Draper`s recent victory as a “really good effort” and an “entertaining match,” noting how Draper “found a way” to overcome his opponent`s strong start.
Andy Murray`s former coach highlighted Draper`s impressive mental resilience. “Draper has been a mental rock of late, I expect that to continue,” Maclagan said. He pointed out that while players often seek rest after successful runs and fatigue, Draper continues to compete, which is “even more impressive.” Maclagan emphasized the value of this drive for maintaining confidence and demonstrating toughness to other players.
