Jack Draper vs Carlos Alcaraz - LIVE!
Jack Draper’s Italian Open campaign has come to a close after he was beaten in straight sets 6-4 6-4 by Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals. The scoreline, though, was not reflective of the British No1’s performance. He more than kept pace with his Spanish counterpart, but let himself down as he squandered several break points throughout the second set, eventually falling to a late break which allowed Alcaraz to serve out.
Draper is up into the top five of the world rankings and is producing the best clay-court form of his career, having reached the final in Madrid last week. The 23-year-old had to battle back from a set down to beat Corentin Moutet in the last-16 yesterday, but his dreams of winning a second career title in Rome were quashed as he faced Alcaraz for a third time this year.
The Spaniard was playing in his first tournament back after missing the Madrid Open with hamstring and groin issues, as he builds towards a defence of his French Open title later this month. Alcaraz has a winning record over Draper, now coming out on top in four of their six meetings, but today was their first meeting on clay. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below!
Jack Draper vs Carlos Alcaraz latest news
- Alcaraz takes opening set 6-4!
- How to watch: Sky Sports
- Standard Sport prediction
Draper (4-6) (4-6) Alcaraz
15:51It is do or die for Draper now - his Italian Open campaign is in serious jeopardy as Alcaraz serves for the match.
The Briton looks absolutely exhausted, though. He overhits a drop shot to lose the first point of the game and rubs his eyes as he returns to the baseline.
Alcaraz takes a 15-40 lead, and for the first time in a while, looks comfortable, collected, focused. He faces two match points.
Again, he is mechanically efficient - it is game, set, and match at the first time of asking. Draper is set for some much-needed time off.
Draper (4-6) *4-5 Alcaraz
15:49 , Arthur FerridgeAlcaraz takes a fast lead in the ninth game of the set, winning a 20-shot rally and another shorter one to go up 0-30.
One more point goes the way of the Spaniard, and he faces three break points.
But he only requires one, and will serve for the match. To say Draper looks gutted would be a colossal understatement.
Draper (4-6) 4-4* Alcaraz
15:39Alcaraz continues to talk himself through each point, to varying effect. Some points he approaches with the class and quality we have come to expect of him, others he makes uncharacteristic errors.
Draper sells the Spaniard a dummy and hits a backhand finisher behind him to force deuce again.
After pulling his opponent back from one game point, Draper takes the advantage through a missed Alcaraz volley, but he responds with a lightning ace - his first of the day - to save break point.
In a Groundhog Day moment, Draper forces another break point, prompting Alcaraz to again pull himself back from the brink, finally closing the game after a pair of unclaimed advantages.
Draper (4-6) *4-3 Alcaraz
15:34Alcaraz seems to be looking to slow the pace of play here, as he takes a second to even out the clay on his half of the court. His ploy has the desired effect - Draper double faults to level the game.
He comes back with a win, though, and Alcaraz is retreating deeper into his own thoughts. After each of the last two points, he has yelled in frustration, using vocabulary they probably left off the GCSE Spanish syllabus.
Draper converts the game.
Draper (4-6) 3-3* Alcaraz
15:28Draper’s chase for the lead continues - Alcaraz is clearly frustrated as he ends a rally with a miss wide and right.
He levels the score immediately after, though, with a well-placed dropshot.
The British No1 is pushing Alcaraz all the way - it is another remarkably close service game for Alcaraz, who lets Draper in again with an unforced error, and he takes it to deuce again.
Again Alcaraz prevails. He takes the first advantage and converts it.
Draper (4-6) *3-2 Alcaraz
15:25Draper’s service games are almost comically one-sided in this set (save for Alcaraz’s earlier break). He holds his serve in an efficient game, not dropping a point.
Draper (4-6) 2-2* Alcaraz
15:20 , Arthur FerridgeDraper is pushing for another break here - he slips as he hits a killer forehand winner to take a 30-15 lead in the game.
Alcaraz hands the Briton a break point attempt after a poorly-timed double fault, but pulls it back to deuce with an improved service point.
And the Spaniard recovers to hold his serve after an extended rally which ends as Draper’s backhand finisher finds the alley.
Draper (4-6) *2-1 Alcaraz
15:16 , Arthur FerridgeDraper is cooking with gas now. He bounces back from that early disappointment in the first game of the second set, breaks Alcaraz, and holds his serve in short order, dropping just one point.
As we saw yesterday, he won’t go down without a fight.
Draper 4-6 *1-1 Alcaraz
15:13 , Matt VerriAnother chance for Alcaraz to finally put this game to bed, as he comfortably puts away the smash.
Nope - forehand flies long. Deuce for a fourth time.
Break point this time, huge moment for Draper!
Draper breaks back! Drop shot floats into the net from Alcaraz and we’re back on serve.
Draper 4-6 0-1* Alcaraz
15:10 , Matt VerriGoes without saying, but Draper needs to find a way to flip the momentum here.
Huge roar of frustration with himself as he goes 30-15 down.
Now a glare at his box, as a forehand lands just long. But Draper is still in the game, Alcaraz not pulling off the drop shot this time. Deuce.
Draper goes for the crosscourt pass, hits the top of the net and drops back on his side of the court. Alcaraz now 9/10 for winning points at the net.
Back to deuce - becoming more and more important this game with every point.
And another deuce, as Draper pulls out a ridiculously good return at full stretch.
Draper 4-6 0-1* Alcaraz
15:04 , Matt VerriIt’s not a great start. Backhand lands long and it’s 0-30.
Too good! Make that 0-40, as Draper fails to put away the overhead at the net and Alcaraz pounces to hammer a forehand winner down the line.
Turning into a bit of a clinic. Flat forehand, delicate volley and Alcaraz breaks to love!
This has all turned very quickly...
Draper came from a set down to win his last-16 match.
That wasn’t against Carlos Alcaraz, though. This will be a serious test for the British number one.
He’ll serve first at the start of this set, looking to halt the run of games against him.
Draper 4-6 Alcaraz
14:59 , Matt VerriAlcaraz with all the time in the world to get to the net and put the forehand away. That brings up set point for him.
And that is the set for Alcaraz!
He was 4-2 down but pulls out four games on the bounce to take the set.
Draper 4-5* Alcaraz
14:58 , Matt VerriDraper looks certain to win the point... three shots later Alcaraz is putting a forehand away. Spaniard getting everything back at the moment. 15-15.
Such clean hitting from the pair of them, this time Draper’s forehand forces the error. 15-30... and a chance.
Two break points! Superb from Draper to get to the drop shot and then make the crosscourt pass.
First comes and goes, Draper too far back behind the baseline and he can’t stay in the rally. And the first serve saves the second break point - deuce.
Draper 4-5* Alcaraz
14:51 , Matt VerriAlcaraz with a great return, right in the corner of the court. More concerning is Draper then stretches out his right thigh, but doesn’t look to be anything serious.
This could be serious, though. Another drop shot from Alcaraz, another point won. 15-30.
Draper then can’t quite make the crosscourt pass and it’s 15-40. Two break points for Alcaraz.
The Spaniard needs just one! Three games in a row and he will now serve for the set.
Draper *4-4 Alcaraz
14:47 , Matt VerriAlcaraz really starting to click into gear. Brings Draper forward with the drop shot and then puts away the volley, before backing it up with an ace. 30-0.
Draper stops the run of points against him with a nice backhand, but Alcaraz goes back to the drop shot and this time the Briton can’t run it down.
Shottttt. Stunning return down the line from Draper, flies past Alcaraz as he rushes to the net. Too good. 40-30.
Deep forehand from Alcaraz and he levels up this set.
Draper 4-3* Alcaraz
14:43 , Matt VerriTrouble...
Alcaraz puts away the smash and it’s 0-30, as he looks for an immediate response.
Make that real trouble - three break points! Alcaraz hammers a forehand down the line to bring up three break points.
Draper pulls the backhand wide and Alcaraz does get it back on serve.
The British number one was a break up for what felt like three and a half seconds.
Draper *4-2 Alcaraz
14:39 , Matt VerriDraper gets a second serve to attack and does move up the court this time, but the forehand clips the top of the net and flies long. 15-0.
This is the first sniff of a break opportunity... Alcaraz slaps a forehand into the net and Draper gets to 15-30.
Incredible point! Draper looks to have won it about three different times, but Alcaraz scrambles brilliantly to stay in the point... until the slice floats long. Two break points.
Alcaraz saves the first with a forehand winner - 30-40.
Draper breaks! Double fault at the worst possible time for Alcaraz.
Draper 3-2* Alcaraz
14:34 , Matt VerriDraper’s got his serve firing early in this match.
Going out wide a lot and Alcaraz is struggling to get it back at full stretch. Two cheap points, Draper 40-15 in no time.
Flat forehand, Alcaraz can’t get that in play either and it’s another hold.
Neither play has come particularly hold to a break yet.
Draper *2-2 Alcaraz
14:32 , Matt VerriDraper spending most of these Alcaraz service games near enough stood in the stands.
Worked around the court in this game, Alcaraz swiftly 40-0.
Make that a hold to love, as the Spaniard strolls up to the net and puts away the volley.
Draper 2-1* Alcaraz
14:28 , Matt VerriDraper could do with more of those.
Alcaraz winds up the forehand again, this time shanks it a couple of miles up into the air. Just about stays in the stadium.
Then pulls the forehand wide, Draper getting a couple of cheaper points in this game.
Great defence from Alcaraz, it takes Draper three flat forehands but eventually he seals the point and the game.
Draper *1-1 Alcaraz
14:24 , Matt VerriAlcaraz getting the better of the exchanges from the back of the court so far. Draper having to work hard to stay in the points.
Too good from Alcaraz, painting the lines with his forehand and eventually Draper is worn down. 40-15.
Briton is standing so deep behind the baseline on return, not getting many chances to come forward from there.
Backhand sails long and that’s Alcaraz on the board.
Draper 1-0* Alcaraz
14:20 , Matt VerriIf that’s a sign of things to come, we’re in for a fun afternoon. Long baseline rally, Alcaraz has Draper scrambling around the court before flicking the forehand away.
Aggressive start from Alcaraz, but goes for too much on the backhand next point. 30-15.
Double fault briefly delays Draper’s progress, but a big first serve brings up an opening hold.
Alcaraz wins the toss and choses to receive, so it will be Draper to kick us off at the start of this match.
There were eight breaks of serve when they last met at Indian Wells, in a chaotically topsy-turvy match.
Draper won 6-1 0-6 6-4 that day.
Here we go...
14:10An unnecessarily dramatic countdown later and we have the players!
Draper first out on court, Alcaraz just behind him.
All smiles as ever from the Spaniard. Draper... less so.
Confidence high in both camps
14:06 , Matt VerriThese are the two best players this season, if the ATP Race to Turin rankings are anything to go by.
Carlos Alcaraz sits top of the standings, with Jack Draper in second ahead of Alexander Zverev.
Good things expected of this one, then...
Next up!
14:00Draper and Alcaraz will be out on court in the next five minutes or so.
Against Alcaraz on clay... this really would be one of the best wins of Draper’s career if he can pull it off.
Game, set and match!
13:51 , Matt VerriCoco Gauff is through to the semi-finals!
She wins the breaker and has beaten Mirra Andreeva in straight sets, 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
Even better news - it means Jack Draper vs Carlos Alcaraz is coming up very, very shortly!
Tie-break time...
13:42 , Matt VerriCoco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva are into a tie-break in the second set.
If Gauff wins it, she’s through. If Andreeva wins it, Draper and Alcaraz might want to slow down their warm-ups...
Head-to-head
13:34This will be the sixth match between the pair and it’s currently Carlos Alcaraz who leads the head-to-head 3-2.
Two of those wins came from Jack Draper retiring mid-match, including at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Draper got the better of Alcaraz at Queen’s last year and at Indian Wells a couple of months ago, and now looks to do so in the first match between them on clay.
Stacked draw!
13:26 , Matt VerriIf Jack Draper is going to win this tournament, he’s going to have to do it the hard way.
Should he get past Carlos Alcaraz, it will be either Alexander Zverev or Lorenzo Musetti in the last-four.
Win that and there’s every chance world number one Jannik Sinner is waiting in the final.
Draper might have to beat the first, second and third seeds!
Elsewhere at the Italian Open
13:18 , Matt VerriIn the opening match on Centre Court, Coco Gauff is a set up against Mirra Andreeva.
The American has been broken in the second, though, so could still be a fair way to go in that match.
Jack Draper and Carlos Alcaraz will be out after that match.
Last time they met...
13:05 , Matt VerriGood memories for Jack Draper!
He last faced Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals at Indian Wells in March, when he beat the Spaniard and then went on to win the title.
More of the same in Rome?
Standard Sport prediction
12:58 , Matt VerriCarlos Alcaraz is unsurprisingly the favourite on a surface that comes far more naturally to him than Jack Draper.
The Briton has taken big strides forward on clay in recent weeks, though, and will believe he can go toe-to-toe with Alcaraz.
We’re going for the French Open champion to edge a thrilling match, which could come down to Draper having slightly heavier legs after his run to the final in Madrid last week.
Alcaraz to win in three sets
How to watch Jack Draper vs Carlos Alcaraz
12:50TV channel: In the UK, the match will be televised live on Sky Sports. Coverage will feature on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports Main Event.
Live stream: Fans can catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app and NOW.
Live blog: You can follow all the action right here with us!
What time is Jack Draper vs Carlos Alcaraz?
12:43 , Matt VerriDraper vs Alcaraz is the second match on Centre Court in Rome this afternoon. They will follow Coco Gauff’s clash with Mirra Andreeva.
The British number one and Alcaraz are expected to walk out at around 2pm BST.
Good afternoon!
12:37 , Matt VerriHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Jack Draper vs Carlos Alcaraz!
It’s a huge quarter-final clash coming up at the Italian Open this afternoon, as the British number one looks for another statement win in what has been a hugely impressive clay-court season.
We’ll have all the build-up right here before full coverage of the action in Rome. Stick with us!
