Jack Draper came through a mighty test against Corentin Moutet to book his place in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open and set up a blockbuster clash with Carlos Alcaraz.
The British No 1 has climbed into the top five of the world rankings as he finds his feet on clay, but really had to battle to keep his run in Rome going. The ever-unpredictable Moutet showed impressive consistency as he varied his game to keep Draper off guard, racing to the first set in 38 minutes for the concession of just a single game to leave his more-fancied opponent with plenty to do.
But Draper again showed his mental and physical strength, growing into his game to unleash an array of fierce forehands to seize control. Two timely breaks in the second set forced a decider, where the failing legs and fraying temper of Moutet allowed the British youngster to seal victory out. He will face Alcaraz in the last eight after the Spaniard survived a scare against Karen Khachanov, also progressing after a deciding set.
Follow all of the latest from the Italian Open in our live blog below:
Italian Open LIVE: Draper vs Moutet updates
- Jack Draper battles past Corentin Moutet in Italian Open last-16
- Draper fights back from a set down to defeat unpredictable Frenchman
- British No 1 will face Carlos Alcaraz next in tasty quarter-final
Jack Draper ‘bamboozled’ but not beaten as British No 1 sets up Carlos Alcaraz clash at Italian Open
13:23 , Harry Latham-CoyleJack Draper will take on Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open after battling past tricky Frenchman Corentin Moutet.
The British No 1 admitted he was "bamboozled" in the first set but recovered to claim a 1-6 6-4 6-3 victory and set up another high-profile clash with a familiar face.
Alcaraz currently leads their head-to-head 3-2 but Draper claimed a memorable victory in their most recent meeting in the Indian Wells semi-finals in March, going on to win his first Masters 1000 title.
He came close to a second in Madrid last weekend, losing in the final to Casper Ruud, and is now within touching distance again on what had been considered his weakest surface.
Jack Draper ‘bamboozled’ but not beaten to set up Alcaraz clash at Italian Open
Jack Draper to face Carlos Alcaraz next
12:42 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnd it’s a proper humdinger of a quarter-final next up for Jack Draper - Carlos Alcaraz has just about prevailed against Karen Khachanov (6-3, 3-6, 7-5) to set up a blockbuster last-eight meeting.
Jack Draper speaks to Sky Sports after securing victory
12:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle“I am proud of my efforts today. I was a bit bamboozled at the start, to be honest. I haven’t played someone like that...well, ever. I felt like I was on a string and I didn’t know what I was doing. But I came out in the second set and fought for every point, and found a way to pick up my level. It was a good one to come through, it feels good.
“I just completely lost my way. I had a word with myself after the first set, I knew I needed to knuckle down and focus. I knew I just had to stay there every point and give myself the best opportunity to compete.
“I was all over the court. At one point I was looking at the slides I’d been doing and they were covering the whole court. I got dizziness! Credit to Corentin, he played a great match. There’s no doubt I came out a bit all over the place today, part of that was to do with him, but I’m giving myself the best chance to be there every point. There’s no time to be tired any more.”
Jack Draper 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 Corentin Moutet
12:32 , Harry Latham-Coyle“Allez!” comes the call from the flagging Frenchman, two errors from the world No 5 keeping him just about alive. But you can’t do that, Corentin - Jack Draper is exposed a little at the net and thus fortunate that his opponent tugs his passing shot well wide.
And that’s that! Draper forces his way through to the quarter-finals as he serves out the game he needs to progress.
Jack Draper* 1-6, 6-4, 5-3 Corentin Moutet
12:26 , Harry Latham-CoyleOoh! A wretched forehand from Jack Draper just as he seemed set to seize 0-40 after a strong display of controlled power hitting.
Two break points are his, though, Moutet hurling his racquet twice into the clay. The second of them is taken - serve out and a quarter-final place will be Draper’s.
Jack Draper 1-6, 6-4, 4-3 Corentin Moutet*
12:22 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe medical timeout comes to an end with Moutet shaking the pain from his legs. Three good games are all he needs - but that looks a tall task at this juncture...
Jack Draper 1-6, 6-4, 4-3 Corentin Moutet*
12:17 , Harry Latham-CoyleCorentin Moutet’s left hamstring appears to be cramping, his attempt to disguise an emergency stretch by re-tying his shoelace unable to conceal the discomfort he is clearly feeling. A look to the heavens as the energy saps. Can he fight through it? It appears the trainer has been called, with Jack Draper smelling blood as he shows his serving teeth once more.
Jack Draper* 1-6, 6-4, 3-3 Corentin Moutet
12:13 , Harry Latham-CoyleA second underarm, underhand serve from Corentin Moutet of the match - and this time, he lands it! There’s certainly been plenty of craft and cunning in this performance. Another unpredictable sequence drags Jack Draper hither and thither before the chance for a winner to hold appears.
Jack Draper 1-6, 6-4, 3-2 Corentin Moutet*
12:09 , Harry Latham-CoyleYou sense it will take some Jack Draper errors for the British No 1 to relinquish his serve, though. We remain without a break in the decider.
Jack Draper* 1-6, 6-4, 2-2 Corentin Moutet
12:06 , Harry Latham-CoyleThat said, there is still heaps of quality coming from Corentin Moutet. A simple enough forehand winner on the approach is put away with elan, whipping over the top the ball to ensure it buries itself in the corner.
Jack Draper 1-6, 6-4, 2-1 Corentin Moutet*
12:01 , Harry Latham-CoyleDraper, conversely, is looking stronger and stronger, the effects of Moutet’s marathon match against Holger Rune perhaps beginning to show as he loses his zip around the court.
Jack Draper* 1-6, 6-4, 1-1 Corentin Moutet
11:57 , Harry Latham-CoyleBoos and whistles as Corentin Moutet’s underarm serve fails to clear the net, the Rome crowd voicing their disapproval as the Frenchman tries to find odder and odder solutions to his problems in this match. Jack Draper helps him out by pushing a drop shot into the net.
A deft end from Moutet as he escapes just about unscathed. This will be a real test of his mental strength from here.
Jack Draper* 1-6, 6-4, 1-0 Corentin Moutet
11:51 , Harry Latham-CoyleA strong start to the third from Jack Draper, straight into his serving work and away impressively.
Jack Draper 1-6, 6-4 Corentin Moutet
11:47 , Harry Latham-CoyleKaren Khachanov has also levelled things up against Carlos Alcaraz, taking a set off the Spaniard for the first time. The winner there faces the winner here in the last eight - and both matches are right in the balance.
Jack Draper 1-6, 6-4 Corentin Moutet
11:41 , Harry Latham-CoyleBut he’s there in the end! Corentin Moutet’s serve falters once more and we are off to a decider in Rome.
Jack Draper 1-6, 5-4 Corentin Moutet*
11:36 , Harry Latham-CoyleOh dear. Just when the engine looked to be firing up, Jack Draper concedes the break back in the most soft of manners. Back on serve.
Jack Draper* 1-6, 5-3 Corentin Moutet
11:33 , Harry Latham-CoyleA double fault at 15-all gives Jack Draper a real sniff, but a battle of slice backhands falls in favour of Corentin Moutet, showcasing again his control of the cut. Draper earns himself a break point soon enough, though his forehand falters as he tries to drive one down the line with Moutet shutting down the angles effectively.
The fluency has gone a little for the Frenchman, with the crowd perhaps turning against him too after his antics over that possible double-bounce earlier. And there’s the break, a backhand watched long by Draper as he finally cracks Moutet’s serve.
Jack Draper 1-6, 4-3 Corentin Moutet*
11:23 , Harry Latham-CoyleIs this a bit of a wobble from Moutet? He overstretches trying to retrieve a ball that always looked likely to beat him and prods at his hamstring, perhaps half in pain and half in frustration still at being proved wrong on that challenge. Having played so well, he doesn’t want to lose focus now.
Jack Draper 1-6, 3-3 (15-0) Corentin Moutet
11:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleA moment of contention as Corentin Moutet challenges the umpire’s decision that Jack Draper had successfully scooped up a drop shot. On first view of the replay, it looks fine - though the slightly strange flight of the ball has Moutet certain that Draper has hit the ball into the ground.
Hmm - I’m not sure anyone else can see what the Frenchman can. It looks a fine bit of work from the British No 1, though Moutet will not be quelled, asking for another angle to be enhanced. He can look at the footage all he wants, but the umpire is not for turning - back he trudges shaking his head but that looked pretty conclusive.
On we will go.
Jack Draper* 1-6, 3-3 Corentin Moutet
11:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleJack Draper builds some pressure on Corentin Moutet’s serve for the first time in a long while, an emphatic urging of “come on” as he watches a groundstroke fly too far from the Frenchman. That’s one way to defuse the tension, though, a canny second serve too good for Draper, wrong-footed totally - Moutet’s ability to balance his unorthodox stylings with unerring accuracy today has been uber, uber impressive.
Jack Draper 1-6, 3-2 Corentin Moutet*
11:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleOn serve we remain as Draper accelerates through another four points.
Jack Draper* 1-6, 2-2 Corentin Moutet
11:06 , Harry Latham-CoyleHe’s going to have to play well to deny Corentin Moutet in this sort of form. A picture-perfect rainbow provides more gold, the lob landing just inside the baseline with Draper beaten and the set level again.
Jack Draper 1-6, 2-1 Corentin Moutet*
11:03 , Harry Latham-CoyleJack Draper is going to try and blast his way out of this hole like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The Brit catches the baseline by a millimetre and then clipping the chalk again with an overhead at 40-0.
Jack Draper* 1-6, 1-1 Corentin Moutet
11:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle“Jack! Jack, come on!” Draper screams at himself, trying to get the top-five player he now is to stir after his latest unforced error. A neat drop shot seals a hold to love for Corentin Moutet.
Jack Draper 1-6, 1-0 Corentin Moutet*
10:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleMore like it from Draper, holding comfortably to start the second set.
Jack Draper 1-6 Corentin Moutet
10:52 , Harry Latham-CoyleOver on centre court, Carlos Alcaraz was a little slow out of the blocks but has come through to take the first set against Karen Khachanov. The winner of that match will face Draper or Moutet in the quarter-finals.
Now, can Jack Draper get going? The errors have again come too regularly for the British No 1, who might have to tweak his game to counter Moutet’s style.
Jack Draper 1-6 Corentin Moutet
10:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleBetter from Draper, authoritative in coming forward to batter a backhand past a slightly careless Corentin Moutet, drifting towards mid-court after he serves. Whew! That’s a doozy, too, a forceful forehand flashed past the Frenchman to get to deuce.
But they prove just temporary interruptions on Moutet’s charge to a most impressive first set! 38 marvellous minutes and it’s secured in style with an ace up the centre.
Jack Draper 1-5 Corentin Moutet*
10:43 , Harry Latham-CoyleJack Draper just cannot get going, the feet sluggish, the strokes sloppy. Corentin Moutet is keeping him off guard with some elegant variation - and breaks again! He’ll serve for the set.
Jack Draper* 1-4 Corentin Moutet
10:39 , Harry Latham-CoyleGorgeous! Corentin Moutet looks to have got himself in a predicament at the net as his first scoop volley drifts right into Jack Draper’s hitting arc, but a fierce forehand from the Brit is drizzled most delectably over the net with the precision and poise of a Michelin-starred chef. The Frenchman is feeling it.
Jack Draper 1-3 Corentin Moutet*
10:34 , Harry Latham-CoyleWhat a passing shot! Bashed back far beyond the baseline, Corentin Moutet finds a winner virtually from the Vatican, curling it across Rome and past a lunging Draper. Superb.
Now, can he capitalise on the break point? Nope, a wayward drop shot and a passing shot that is much too low. But the 26-year-old earns another chance with a point of good construct. And this time it’s seized! Draper’s serve is breached.
Jack Draper* 1-2 Corentin Moutet
10:27 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe ferocity of Jack Draper’s forehand bails him out of a bit of bother, the power forcing an error from Corentin Moutet with a gaping crosscourt gap seemingly set to be exploited by the Frenchman’s backhand. A gorgeous return down the line as Draper opens up his body and another thumping forehand winner set up two break points.
Both saved! Draper comes very close to clipping the white paint with a backhand cross but can’t quite find it. Moutet scrambles to a hold thereafter, though his opponent is starting to find his range.
Jack Draper 1-1 Corentin Moutet*
10:19 , Harry Latham-CoyleJack Draper didn’t really get his drop shot going against Vit Kopriva, his attempts to kill the ball at the front of the court often springing up to allow his opponent into the point. That, then, is an encouraging sign the fresh morning clay perhaps more amenable and Corentin Moutet unable to trowel it out.
A missed backhand overhead and unbalanced netted forehand set up deuce. And that’s a little sloppy again from Draper, again errant at the net as he slides on the approach.
But at the third attempt, Draper seals it out.
Jack Draper* 0-1 Corentin Moutet
10:13 , Harry Latham-CoyleA strong start from Moutet, to the net to win his first point and then showing off his trademark variety to get to 30-0. And two Draper forehand flaps into the net cord seal a hold to love in a brisk opening to proceedings.
Jack Draper vs Corentin Moutet
10:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleThis is the first meeting between these two having evaded each other on tour over the last few years. If Corentin Moutet is on his game, this could go long - how has he recovered from this third-round epic?
Jack Draper has won the toss and elected to receive. The Frenchman has the balls - let’s play.
Jack Draper vs Corentin Moutet
10:05 , Harry Latham-CoyleOut in to the morning sunshine at Super Tennis Arena the players come, ready to begin a big day of Italian Open action. After Jack Draper’s tantrum in the last round and Corentin Moutet’s past racquet-smashing antics, one fears for their frames if either man lets their frustration show.
Who is Corentin Moutet?
10:02 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt’s a fellow leftie with which Jack Draper will have to contend this morning, with the very talented Corentin Moutet likely to be able to better match the weaponry that the British No 1 possesses than his last opponent. The Frenchman is a fascinating character, a bit of a hot-head on court but capable of real peaks. He reached the fourth round of the French Open last year and the third at the Australian Open in January, knocking out Alexei Popyrin on home soil.
His victory over Holger Rune in the last round came in three hours and 45 minutes and was his first over a top-10 player - but showed all of the gifts and stamina that Moutet has. Having grown up idolising Rafael Nadal, can he claim another clay-court victory of which to be proud?
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic end coaching partnership after six months
09:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe players should be out on court soon enough in Rome, but there’s big news elsewhere in the tennis world this morning: Andy Murray’s time as coach of Novak Djokovic is over ahead of the French Open.
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic end coaching partnership after six months
Jannik Sinner thanks Jack Draper for support during doping ban
09:50 , Jamie BraidwoodWorld number one Jannik Sinner said the support and friendship he received from Jack Draper during his three-month ban for a doping violation gave him the positive energy he needed to make it through a difficult period.
Sinner accepted the ban following a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency in February after authorities agreed that the anabolic agent clostebol inadvertently entered his system through massages from his physiotherapist.
While some players raised questions about whether Sinner had received preferential treatment, Briton Draper stood by his fellow 23-year-old and the pair trained together ahead of the Italian Open where they are competing this week.
"We find ourself in a great friendship because we're very similar as people. We're humble. We try to do our best on court. Off court, we're very simple people," Sinner told reporters.
"His support meant so much to me. Whoever supported me in this period, I really appreciate that. It was positive energy."
Emma Raducanu outclassed by Coco Gauff
09:40 , Jamie BraidwoodEmma Raducanu was taught a lesson on clay as Coco Gauff underlined her quality on the surface with a dominant straight-sets win to reach the Italian Open quarter-finals.
The World No 3 raced to a 6-1 6-2 win over Raducanu, requiring just 79 minutes to progress to the Rome quarters for the third time as the American continues to build form ahead of the start of the French Open. After reaching the final of the Madrid Open, Gauff has won eight of her last nine matches, with her only defeat coming to World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Raducanu had won three matches in a row to reach the last-16 in Rome for the first time – beating qualifier Maya Joint, lucky loser Jil Teichmann and Veronika Kudermetova – but former French Open finalist Gauff represented a step up in class and displayed her impressive court-coverage and aggressive shot-making on the surface.
Emma Raducanu outclassed by Coco Gauff but ‘heading in right direction’
Jack Draper explains frustration in previous round
09:30 , Jamie Braidwood“It was a tough match, definitely, against a guy who is a bit unknown, but he’s won a lot of matches here. He’s feeling good.
“I knew coming in it’s another match, another chance to try and put my game out on the court. I felt a little bit low in energy. My feet weren’t working as well as I wanted them to. But I tried to fight hard and find a way.
“Obviously, the frustration boiled out a little bit too much in the end, but I stayed at it and came through.
“I’m human. We don’t always wake up out of bed feeling great. I’m the same. I get out of bed and I feel so angry some days, and I’ve got to play a tennis match and I’ve got to lose points and I’ve got to go through those emotional ups and downs, even with that going on.
“I think I’ve played a lot of tennis, a lot of matches, and I’m getting used to that. I’m in a new position now, my ranking is obviously going up, and I’m getting to compete week in, week out and play lots of matches.
“It’s taking some getting used to for me from a mental and physical side, and I want to keep going, but it’s sometimes difficult to always be perfect.”
Jack Draper advances in Rome despite smashing racquet
09:20 , Jamie BraidwoodJack Draper admitted his frustration had boiled over after he smashed a racquet en route to beating Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva in straight sets at the Italian Open.
The British No 1 was a set and a break up but had passed up the chance to break Kopriva again to make it 4-2 when he angrily struck his racquet a number of times on the clay court.
Jack Draper advances in Rome despite smashing racquet as ‘frustration boiled out’
Italian Open order of play and schedule today
09:10 , Jamie BraidwoodGrand Stand Arena
Not before 13:00
[8] Lorenzo Musetti vs [10] Daniil Medvedev
[13] Arthur Fils vs [2] Alexander Zverev
[11] Tommy Paul vs [7] Alex de Minaur
SuperTennis Arena
Start: 10:00
[5] Jack Draper vs Corentin Moutet
[30] Hubert Hurkacz vs [20] Jakub Mensik
Italian Open order of play and schedule today
09:05 , Jamie BraidwoodCampo Centrale
Start: 10:00
[23] Karen Khachanov vs [3] Carlos Alcaraz
[6] Jasmine Paolini vs [13] Diana Shnaider
[1] Jannik Sinner vs [17] Francisco Cerúndolo
Not before 19:00
Peyton Stearns vs [16] Elina Svitolina
Jaume Munar vs [6] Casper Ruud
Jack Draper v Corentin Moutet start time
09:02 , Jamie BraidwoodWhen is Jack Draper vs Corentin Moutet?
The last-16 match is the first match scheduled on Super Tennis Arena on Tuesday 13 May at the Foro Italico in Rome. It should begin at 10am BST, with the winner facing either Carlos Alcaraz or Karen Khachanov, who meet at the same time on Centre Court.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can tune in to all of the action from the joint ATP Tour and WTA event via Sky Sports, with coverage throughout the tournament. A live stream will be available via Sky Go.
Good morning
09:00 , Jamie BraidwoodJack Draper will look to continue his clay court development as he faces Corentin Moutet in an intriguing encounter at the Italian Open.
Draper overcame a battling performance from the unheralded Vit Kopriva, and his own mid-match smashing of a racquet, to continue a strong start to the season on the surface, with his serve again unbroken.
The British No 1 could come up against a greater threat from the enigmatic Moutet, though, with the Frenchman a more than capable clay-courter who reached the fourth round at Roland Garros last year.
Moutet came through a nearly four-hour epic against ninth seed Holger Rune to set up this clash, and will hope to knock out another big name to continue a strong run in Rome.
