Jack Draper vs Corentin Moutet LIVE
British No1 Jack Draper was put through his paces by Corentin Moutet in the Italian Open round of 16, recovering from a slow start to win 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. The Briton was slow off the line in the first set, falling to a prompt defeat in under 40 minutes, before he battled back in the following sets to confirm his progression to the quarter-finals, where he will meet Carlos Alcaraz.
Moutet had established himself as something of a giant slayer in the Italian Open, downing world No9 Holger Rune and No21 Ugo Umbert in the earlier rounds. The Rune upset was a marathon event, winning 7-5 5-7 7-6(4) over the course of three hours and 45 minutes - the second longest best-of-three match at the Italian Open since the ATP began recording times.
But there was no such upset on Tuesday. Moutet ran out of steam in the late stages of the third set, receiving treatment for a hamstring cramp before conceding the break which all but confirmed his defeat before Draper confirmed the win by converting a final service game. Catch up on Draper vs Moutet as it happened live below!
Jack Draper vs Corentin Moutet latest news
- Match start
- Draper down a break
- Moutet romps through first set
- Video review drama
- Draper takes lead in second set
- Set two to Draper
- How to watch: Sky Sports
Game, set, match! *Draper (1-6) (6-4) (6-3) Moutet
12:32 , Arthur FerridgeJack Draper moves on to the quarter finals in Rome!
Both players appeared exhausted through the final game, with every point ending in an unforced error, but Draper would require just the one match point to get the win over the line.
BREAK: Draper (1-6) (6-4) 5-3 Moutet*
12:26Draper confirms the break at the second time of asking and will serve for the match.
Moutet, clearly fading physically, throws down his racket in frustration.
Draper (1-6) (6-4) (4-3) 30-0 Moutet*
12:22 , Arthur FerridgeDraper is looking to take full advantage of Moutet’s sore legs - he getsup t the net in short order to keep him moving through his first service point before opting for power from the baseline in the second.
Draper (1-6) (6-4) 4-3 Moutet*
12:21 , Arthur FerridgeThere is a distinct look of concern on Moutet’s face as he receives treatment, but he will power through and return to the court.
Draper is not resting, though. He waited through the medical break on the court, perhaps sending a message.
Draper (1-6) (6-4) 4-3 Moutet*
12:18 , Arthur FerridgeA brief break now, as Moutet is seen to by the athletic trainer. He is massaging the Frenchman’s left hamstring.
*Draper (1-6) (6-4) 4-3 Moutet
12:18 , Arthur FerridgeMarathon runners often talk about hitting a wall at a certain point of a race, where your legs no longer cooperate and you feel totally run out of energy.
Moutet looks to be fast approaching that point as Draper converts his latest service game.
*Draper (1-6) (6-4) 3-3 Moutet
12:15 , Arthur FerridgeOn the question of heavy legs, Moutet looks to be dealing with a cramping hamstring. Hardly surprising given the intensity of today’s game and the feat of endurance that was his four-hour win over Holger Rune on Sunday.
Advantage Draper?
Draper (1-6) (6-4) 3-3 Moutet*
12:14Moutet continues to force Draper into awkward positions, keeping him moving and converting his serve.
As the clock passes the two-hour mark, both men’s legs will be feeling particularly heavy now. Who can hold on the longest?
Draper (1-6) (6-4) (3-2) 0-30 Moutet*
12:11 , Arthur FerridgeMoutet dips back into his bag of tricks, and this time the underhand serve comes off. Second time lucky.
Draper sprints off the baseline, but cannot quite get to it in time.
*Draper (1-6) (6-4) 3-2 Moutet
12:09 , Arthur FerridgeAnd again, Draper converts his serve with no thrills.
The match is impossible to call at this stage. Will Draper or Moutet blink first?
Draper (1-6) (6-4) 2-2 Moutet*
12:06 , Arthur FerridgeMoutet is unfussy as he converts his service game.
He is just as lively as ever - you wouldn’t guess he was in the throes of a near four-hour match barely 48 hours ago.
*Draper (1-6) (6-4) 2-1 Moutet
12:02 , Arthur FerridgeThe Draper of the third set is unrecognisable from that of the first.
He is leaning into Moutet’s scattergun antics, using his own weapons against him to keep the Frenchman on the move.
Draper (1-6) (6-4) 1-1 Moutet*
11:58 , Arthur FerridgeDraper came so close to an early break in the third set, but Moutet is still keeping up.
He denies the Briton one break point and wins the game from deuce. This set could go either way yet.
Draper (1-6) (6-4) (1-0) 15-30 Moutet*
11:54 , Arthur FerridgeMoutet tries a cheeky underhand serve, which the crowd adores, but it doesn’t quite make it over the net.
*Draper (1-6) (6-4) 1-0 Moutet
11:51 , Arthur FerridgeStart as you mean to go on. That first game could not have done better for Draper.
He downs Moutet 40-15 to start the third set on the right foot.
*Draper (1-6) (6-4) 0-0 Moutet
11:48Draper gets us underway for the deciding set and claims the first point of the set after Moutet returns from a lengthy bathroom break.
Looking back to the first set, where Draper was so convincingly beaten, who would have thought he would battle back to force a decider?
BREAK, SET: Draper (1-6) (6-4) Moutet*
11:42 , Arthur FerridgeSome remarkable tennis being played here - a third consecutive break and Draper takes the second set!
It was not necessarily convincing, but Draper has properly woken up now and forces a decider.
BREAK - *Draper (1-6) 5-4 Moutet
11:36 , Arthur FerridgeDisaster for Draper! So much for that momentum shift - He is broken to love immediately after earning his first break of the day against Moutet.
BREAK - Draper (1-6) 5-3 Moutet*
11:34 , Arthur FerridgeDraper gets his break after a changeable game, and you can see how cathartic that is.
Moutet won two huge rallies as he looked to hold his serve, even allowing for a moment of levity as he headed away Draper’s return on a faulty serve.
But Draper confirmed the break from deuce on his second attempt. That will surely be a pivotal moment in the match.
*Draper (1-6) 4-3 Moutet
11:24 , Arthur FerridgeDraper overcomes the distraction of that extended video review break to hold serve.
That may well prove to be a turning point in the match. Draper is continuing to improve, while Moutet’s grip seems to be loosening.
Video review drama: *Draper (1-6) (3-3) 15-0 Moutet
11:21 , Arthur FerridgeWe take a break as Moutet challenges a decision - he feels that Draper’s drop shot bounced twice before he reached it.
It is a hairline decision but goes the way of Draper, much to the chagrin of Moutet, who was attempting to dictate the video review.
He had been in total control in the match before this incident - can he keep his focus after this outburst?
Draper (1-6) 3-3 Moutet*
11:16 , Arthur FerridgeDraper launches another assault at Moutet as he chases a first break of the game, but the Frenchman is equal to every challenge.
He hits another pair of tidy drop shots out of the Briton’s reach - he is really struggling to read Moutet’s unpredictable attacks.
*Draper (1-6) 3-2 Moutet
11:10On serve, Draper could not be more on the ball. He wins his service game again, this time in particularly short order.
He does still need to find a break, though, which is proving to be easier said than done.
Draper (1-6) 2-2 Moutet*
11:07There really doesn’t seem to much more Draper can do here - Moutet is hitting some incredible shots as he holds serve again.
A perfectly weighted chip was probably the pick of the bunch there. Draper tracked back but let it go, apparently expecting the ball to go long, but it dropped on the baseline.
*Draper (1-6) 2-1 Moutet
11:03 , Arthur FerridgeDraper’s introspective pep talk in the last game seems to have had some effect - he played some of his best tennis of the morning there as he holds serve to love.
Once again, he is at his best at the net, hitting one sweet drop shot just barely over the net to leave Moutet scrambling.
Draper (1-6) 1-1 Moutet*
11:00 , Arthur FerridgeMoutet holds his serve without losing a point.
His drop shots continue to confound Draper, who has even given up chasing some of them.
Draper (1-6) 1-0 Moutet* 0-15
10:59 , Arthur FerridgeThe frustration is starting to show through for Draper.
He hits a return into the net and shouts: “Jack, come on!”
Conversely, Moutet has rarely looked so comfortable in a match.
*Draper (1-6) 1-0 Moutet
10:56 , Arthur FerridgeThat is much better from Draper, who cruises through his first service game.
He was far more aggressive at the net in that game, giving Moutet a taste of his own medicine which the Frenchman did not seem to appreciate.
*Draper (1-6) 0-0 Moutet
10:53 , Arthur FerridgeAfter having a word with his coach, Draper serves into the second set.
Set one closes quickly - Draper 1-6 Moutet*
10:49And just like that, the first set is over. It lasted just 38 minutes.
It just isn’t quite coming together for Draper thus far - he is performing well in his rallies, but is getting the runaround from Moutet, whose drop shots are causing the Brit a lot of problems.
His finishers, too, are not landing, routinely falling just foul of the boundary.
All to do in the second set.
Double break - *Draper 1-5 Moutet
10:44 , Arthur FerridgeMoutet takes another game off Draper and will serve for the first set.
He is clearly frustrated, blowing off some steam as he fires a return out of the stadium in the next game.
Draper 1-4 Moutet*
10:40 , Arthur FerridgeMoutet is in top gear here - he really looks to be enjoying the occasion. The Frenchman hits a delicate drop-shot at the net to frustrate Draper before converting another service game to extend his first-set lead to three.
He is showing no signs of fatigue whatsoever despite playing a near four-hour match on Sunday.
Draper suffers early break - *Draper 1-3 Moutet
10:36After Draper went so close to breaking in the previous game, Moutet responds with a break of his own.
He too did it the long way, missing a break point at 30-40, before taking the first advantage and securing the game win after a lengthy rally.
The difference is in the fine details for Draper - he is performing well in the rallies, but has seen several potentially winning shots miss just slightly wide.
Draper 1-2 Moutet*
10:27That is a frustrating one for Draper - he squanders two break points as Moutet stays on serve.
It took four missed break points for a racket to get smashed in his last match - how many might it take today?
*Draper 1-1 Moutet
10:21 , Arthur FerridgeDraper holds serve. Moutet is struggling to return his serves, twice going long on the response, but is having the better of the rallies when he does.
The British No1 has spoken about some fatigue ahead of the match, and looks a little stiff in the early stages.
*Draper (0-1) 40-40 Moutet
10:19Not a particularly smooth first service game for Draper here. Moutet forces him to deuce and rescues the Brit’s first advantage after his drop shot finds the net.
Draper 0-1 Moutet*
10:14 , Arthur FerridgeIt is a comfortable first game for Moutet. He is known for his varied shot styles, and we have seen several of those already as he keeps Draper on his toes with a blend of drop shots and driving backhands. He is doing what he can to play at the net, too, taking an aggressive approach into the tie.
He holds Draper to love in the first game of the afternoon.
Underway in Rome - Draper 0-0 Moutet*
10:11 , Arthur FerridgeMoutet serves first to kick us off in Rome and sets the standard, winning the first point of the afternoon.
Draper and Moutet have arrived
10:03 , Arthur FerridgeThe players are out on court and warming up.
About to get underway
09:59 , Arthur FerridgeThe first match of the day will be underway shortly.
Draper vs Moutet will kick off momentarily.
Have Draper and Moutet played before?
09:54 , Arthur FerridgeToday will mark the first career meeting between Draper and Moutet.
The Frenchman recorded his first victory against a top ten opponent as he beat Rune in the last round. To beat Draper, ranked world No5, would be the biggest upset of his career to date.
Moutet fell in love with tennis at an early age
09:47 , Arthur FerridgeCorentin Moutet’s mother spoke to L’Equipe ahead of today’s match, reflecting on the early days of his career.
“For Corentin’s first birthday, his godmother gave him a racket. He got up and walked. It really inspired him from a very early age. He knew why he got up in the morning.”
What has Draper said about Moutet?
09:39 , Arthur FerridgeDraper has previewed today’s tie, saying he was a fan of Moutet when they were rising through the ranks at the same time.
“I kind of looked up to him when I was younger, because I think he won Tarbes.
“I think he’s always been quite flarey. I think he brings a lot to tennis, to be honest. Every time I watch him, it’s an interesting match. So I look forward to that battle.”
Can Moutet take advantage of Draper's volatile emotions?
09:31 , Arthur FerridgeFor Moutet, the key to victory may be in the mental battle rather than the physical. Draper is susceptible to moments of frustration, as we have seen this tournament, and that could be his undoing today.
Speaking after smashing his racket midmatch on Sunday, Draper said: “When I get out of bed I feel so angry some days. And, you know, I’ve got to play a tennis match and I’ve got to lose points, so I’ve got to go through those emotional ups and downs.
“I’m in a new position now. My ranking’s obviously going up, and I’m getting to compete week in, week out, and play lots of matches. And that’s taken some getting used to from the mental and physical side. I want to keep going, but yeah, it’s sometimes difficult to always be perfect.”
Draper speaks ahead of the match
09:24 , Arthur FerridgeDraper put the racket-smash incident down to fatigue amid his busy tournament schedule.
He said: “I was a bit flat today. It’s tough. I’m human. I’ve been mentally and physically on for the last three weeks.
“They’re not easy now, these two-week Masters events, especially if you go deep. On the days when you’re tired it’s really tough to stay there mentally on every point.
“I got a bit frustrated today. I don’t condone it. But I did well to come through.”
Draper smashes racket in flashpoint
09:16 , Arthur FerridgeThere has been one notable bump in the road in Draper’s Italian Open campaign - he received a code violation for smashing his racket in the second set against Vit Kopriva.
It was a clear moment of frustration for the Brit, who had just missed four break points. But he recovered and went on to win the tie 6-4 6-3.
Standard Sport's prediction
09:08 , Arthur FerridgeAs the latter stages of the tournament approach, fitness levels will play an increasingly important role. After Moutet’s marathon effort last time out, Draper will look to capitalise on his opponent’s presumably heavy legs.
After Moutet upset Rune, he will surely push Draper all the way, but the Brit’s stamina and class should see him win out today.
Draper to win, 7-5 6-4
What to know about Corentin Moutet
09:02 , Arthur FerridgeMoutet, 26, was born and raised outside Paris, and has been a professional since 2016.
He has never won a tournament, peaking at No51 in world rankings in 2022.
So far this tournament, though, he has produced two huge upsets. He beat his countryman Ugo Humbert after a medical retirement, before edging past Holger Rune after nearly four hours of play, winning 7-5 5-7 7-6(4).
That match was Moutet’s first top 10 win - to beat world No5 Draper today would mark the biggest win of his career to date.
Draper's Italian Open campaign
08:57 , Arthur FerridgeThe British No1 has cruised to this stage of the Italian Open, and is yet to drop a set.
He downed Luciano Darderi in his round of 64 tie 6-1 6-4, before beating Vit Kopriva 6-4 6-3 on Sunday to reach the round of 16.
While Moutet is unseeded in this tournament, he has made a habit of felling giants. Draper will hope to avoid handing him another career highlight today.
How to watch Draper vs Moutet
08:51 , Arthur FerridgeIn the UK, the match will be televised live on Sky Sports. Coverage begins on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports Main Event at 10am BST, with Draper and Corentin set to get underway in the first match of the day at 10am.
Fans can catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app and NOW.
And you can follow all the latest right here with Standard Sport.
What time does Draper vs Moutet start?
08:46 , Arthur FerridgeDraper and Moutet are top of the order this morning, getting underway in the Super Tennis Arena at 10am BST.
Good morning
08:41 , Arthur FerridgeHello, and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Jack Draper v Corentin Moutet.
The British No1 continues his push for a first clay title, but can Moutet pull off another upset?
