By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, Could 13, 2025
Photograph credit score: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Rome’s pink clay is a pivotal platform for Carlos Alcaraz.
When the third-seeded Alcaraz faces fifth-seeded Jack Draper in a blockbuster Rome quarterfinal conflict, the Spanish celebrity can be fueled by two main motivations.
The third-seeded Alcaraz conquered Karen Khachanov 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to achieve his maiden Rome quarterfinal right now. Alcaraz accomplished the quarterfinal set reaching quarterfinals or higher in any respect 4 Grand Slams and each ATP Masters 1000 occasion.
Draper defeated Corentin Moutet 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 to advance to his third Masters 1000 quarterfinal of the 12 months.
Alcaraz is looking for revenge from his disappointing Indian Wells semifinal loss to Draper and to safe the No. 2 seed for his Roland Garros title protection by reaching the Rome closing 4.
The pair have cut up two conferences this season with Alcaraz successful on the Australian Open the place Draper retired with damage earlier than the left-handed Briton beat the two-time Wimbledon winner in Palm Springs. Alcaraz, who has received three of their 5 conferences, says he is wanting to enact revenge.
“I am simply prepared. I am simply wanting ahead to enjoying towards him,” Alcaraz mentioned of Draper. “He is among the best gamers on this planet proper now. The outcomes reveals how good is enjoying currently.
“Yeah, simply wish to take revenge from Indian Wells. I’ll attempt to be extra prepared than Indian Wells. Goes to be an attention-grabbing match to look at and to play.”
Commanding the middle of the court docket along with his forehand, Draper performed with extra fireplace and want within the desert in what was his second win over Alcaraz of their final three conferences.
Final June, Draper defeated Alcaraz 7-6(3), 6-3 on the grass of Queen’s Membership. Which means if Draper downs Alcaraz of their Rome rematch he would personal wins over the four-time Grand Slam champion on all three of the most important surfaces up to now 11 months.
“Clearly I suppose we’re each within the high 5 on this planet now. However I see it as simply two guys who’re enjoying nice tennis going on the market and eager to win and beat one another and be aggressive,” Draper mentioned of going through Alcaraz in Rome. “I’ve large respect for him. I do know what he will carry. He’ll be actually robust to beat.
“I believe we play tomorrow. So clearly there’s a little bit of a change in dynamic. I really feel robust and I be ok with the match. I hope that I can carry some actually good tennis.”
One of many world’s greatest movers on pure surfaces, Alcaraz has received 24 of his final 26 clay-court matches and carries a 12-1 file in grime this season into the Rome quarterfinals, together with his title run in Monte-Carlo final month.
Whereas Draper’s ferocious forehand has helped him crack the Prime 5, Alcaraz says the US Open semifinalist’s all-court capability is what makes him most harmful.
“He is actually strong. He is actually strong,” Alcaraz mentioned of Draper. “He is actually passionate. In each level, his pictures are nice, actually aggressively.
“He is attempting to play as aggressive as he can, and that makes him actually, actually robust. Each level is a battle. Bodily he improved lots. With the serve, with every part, I imply, he is actually, actually full participant.”
