Draper Falls to Alcaraz in Italian Open Quarters

Jack Draper, ranked fifth in the ATP rankings, was eliminated from the Italian Open quarter-finals after losing 6-4, 6-4 to world number three Carlos Alcaraz. Draper initially led in the first set, but Alcaraz rallied to secure the win and advance to the semi-finals, where he will face either Lorenzo Musetti or Alexander Zverev. This match marked the first time Draper and Alcaraz competed against each other on clay, following a season in which they had split their earlier meetings. Draper reached the quarter-finals after a comeback win over Corentin Moutet, highlighting his recent consistency and strong clay-court performance. Despite the loss, Draper's season includes a Madrid Open final appearance and an Indian Wells title, keeping him close to breaking into the ATP top four. Alcaraz demonstrated his championship composure by prevailing in key moments.