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Jack Draper beat Tommy Paul in straight sets on Madrid on Wednesday afternoon - Reuters/Ana Beltran
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Jack Draper has played just five sets in Madrid, and spent barely three hours on the court, but is through to the quarter-finals as the highest remaining seed.
After swatting aside Tallon Griekspoor in his opening match, and then benefiting from a mid-match retirement by Matteo Berrettini on Tuesday, Draper had no trouble at all in despatching 11th seed Tommy Paul by a 6-2, 6-2 margin.
On a cold and blustery day in Madrid, Paul never found his best stuff, coughing up 31 unforced errors in a patchy display. It should be said, though, that Draper has a way of making his opponents play badly.
When you are up against him, you feel the need to pull the trigger early, because you never know when Draper is about to deliver a decisive blow of his own. As a result, players tend to go for too many ambitious shots and often end up losing their own rhythm and confidence.
Draper did not need to do too much in the early stages of this match, simply maintaining a solid line and length. Once he had snared the first set, however, he changed gear and began going after his forehand in earnest. The final point of the match was typical, as he slammed another winner into the corner: his 20th of the match.
Speaking after the win, Draper admitted that he had been motivated by last year’s disappointing clay-court season, in which he lost all six matches against top-50 opposition and went down to Jesper de Jong, the world No 176, at Roland Garros.
It was almost exactly a year ago that Draper hired former world No 6 Wayne Ferreira as a consultant coach. As a man who had spent his junior years as a metronomic grinder, his intention was to beef up the attacking side of his game. And while the Ferreira experiment was hardly an unqualified success, lasting only three months, it helped provide a useful jolt.
“Last year, I took a few early losses,” said Draper, with regard to 2024’s clay-court campaign. “I was really gone with it. I know I can play well on the surface. And this year, it’s been a big goal of mine to prove that.”
The next question was about the left forehand which is intimidating so many players. Asked whether he could see any comparisons between his own forehand and that of Rafael Nadal, Draper smiled wryly and replied “I haven’t won 14 Roland Garroses.”
He then added that “Rafa is obviously someone, being lefty, that I looked up to when I was younger. I don’t compare myself to him, but I’d like to think that I have qualities like Rafa, whether that’s his attitude or I suppose his forehand, with the shape.
“There are certain things I can take from him, for sure, but I’m not quite at his level.”
This is fair, given that Nadal won 63 titles on clay and Draper – who is 23 – has yet to land his first. But he has the game to be a threat to anyone, thanks especially to that booming, heavily spun forehand.
As for the titles, Draper has already lifted three trophies at ATP level, including the recent Indian Wells crown. But he is chasing more silverware with great determination, and this Madrid Open is now looking like a fine opportunity to add a fourth.
Tuesday’s play saw the elimination of both Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz, two of the five men who stand above Draper in the world rankings.
With Carlos Alcaraz sidelined by injury, Jannik Sinner still serving a doping ban, and Novak Djokovic on a rotten run of form, Draper looks to be in with a great shout if he can win his quarter-final against Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi.
04:43 PM BST
Felt like Paul was overplaying in an excess of respect for Draper’s game
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Not the cleanest of matches but then it was very blustery in Madrid. It felt as if Tommy Paul had been overplaying in an excess of respect for Draper’s game, and coughing up too many unforced errors as a result. The forehand side was particularly wonky.
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04:33 PM BST
First Masters 1000 quarter-final on clay
04:30 PM BST
‘It was a really good performance’
Jack Draper speaking to Tennis TV: “It was a really good performance. The more time I get on this surface, the more I learn how I’m going to be effective. I think I’m looking for my forehand really well, I’m doing things better and better each match. Moved really well today which I’m happy with.
“These guys are all really good players. So to come out and play the way I did against Tommy, that’s a really good thing for me.”
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04:19 PM BST
Game, set and match Draper 6-2, 6-2!
Draper holds to 15 and closes out the match in straight sets for the loss of just four games.
Paul at the net told Draper, “great playing” and it really was from the Briton.
04:14 PM BST
(5)Draper 6-2, 5-2 (11)Paul*
Paul races out to a 30-0 lead thanks to a winner and Draper unforced error.
The American then throws in another unforced error of his own.
Draper gets to deuce as another Paul backhand sails out. The American gets to game point after forcing Draper to go long from the baseline.
The Briton then gets to advantage a huge return winner off a Paul second serve. And Draper breaks again after a superb forehand down the line.
04:09 PM BST
(5)Draper* 6-2, 4-2 (11)Paul
Paul nets a forehand to fall 15-0 behind. Draper then hits an ace to go 30-0 up. The Briton then comes out on top after a three-shot rally before firing down another huge first serve to close out the game to love.
04:06 PM BST
(5)Draper 6-2, 3-2 (11)Paul*
Paul sprays a forehand long and then follows up with two more errors which sees Draper race out to 0-40 lead.
The Briton takes full advantage on the first opportunity as Paul sees another forehand sail long.
Draper in full control now!
04:02 PM BST
(5)Draper* 6-2, 2-2 (11)Paul
Draper wins the opening point after an extended rally ends with Paul error. The Briton then overcooks a groundstroke of his own as Paul levels things up.
Big serve out wide brings up game point for Draper. Second serve-return is then miscued by Paul who hits backhand out as Draper holds to 30.
03:57 PM BST
(5)Draper 6-2, 1-2 (11)Paul*
Paul gets Draper on the run at 15-15 and sees the Briton strike a backhand on the run long!
The American then hits a double fault as Draper gets to 30-30.
Break point Draper, as Paul nets a backhand. The American saves it thanks to a fortunate net cord. Draper then gets another look at a break point following a Paul error.
The 11th seed digs out a nice backhand cross up at the net, on the stretch to get back to deuce before winning the next two points to close out the game.
A very important hold for the American.
03:51 PM BST
(5)Draper* 6-2, 1-1 (11)Paul
Draper wins the opening point after Paul hits another unforced error.
The Briton then quickly gets to 40-0 after finding some big first serves to help set up his points. And the Briton holds to love after another quick service game.
03:49 PM BST
Second set: (5)Draper 6-2, 0-1 (11)Paul*
After losing the opening point of the game, Paul holds to 30.
The American was struggling with his timing on both wings in the first set and will be hoping to clean things up in this second.
03:46 PM BST
Quick first set from Draper
A fast start from Jack Draper️
He takes the first set against Tommy Paul pic.twitter.com/iQ8YTRrC6b
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) April 30, 2025
03:43 PM BST
Draper wins the first set 6-2!
Draper wins the opening point after a three-shot rally.
Another short rally sees the Briton get to 30-0 before he fires down an ace to bring three set points.
Forehand cross sees Draper close out the game with a hold to love.
Clean set of tennis from the fifth seed!
03:39 PM BST
(5)Draper 5-2 (11)Paul*
Paul wins the opening point with mix between a drive-volley and overhead smash.
The American follows up with two unforced errors before steadying things up to go 30-30.
Draper then goes long with a forehand which sees Paul get to 40-30. A huge forehand return winner sees Draper get to deuce and then advantage as Paul misses an easy backhand volley.
And Draper breaks again!
03:34 PM BST
(5)Draper* 4-2 (11)Paul
Draper races out to 30-0 before Paul gets on the board after covering ground on the baseline and then in the service box.
The Briton then hits a forehand long as Paul levels at 30-30.
A big forehand down the line brings up a game point for Draper and he takes it after Paul shanks a forehand on the slide.
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03:29 PM BST
(5)Draper 3-2 (11)Paul*
Paul wins the opening point but a net cord helps Draper level things up at 15-15. The Briton then goes long with a forehand cross as Paul gets to 30-15.
Paul attempts to hit a drop-shot on the backhand wing but nets it. The American does eventually hold to 30.
03:25 PM BST
(5)Draper* 3-1 (11)Paul
Draper’s turn to miscue a forehand after an extended rally to start the fourth game of the first set. The Briton then shows great hands with a lovely backhand drop shot to get to 15-15.
Ace out wide brings up two game points at 40-15. Draper then sees a forehand sail long as Paul gets to 30-40 but Draper holds after another error from the baseline from the American.
03:19 PM BST
(5)Draper 2-1 (11)Paul*
Paul sprays a forehand long as Draper wins the opening point. The American then follows up with a huge first serve out wide that Draper is unable to return.
Another miscue from Paul sees Draper go 15-30 ahead before the Brit wins the next point to get a look at two break points.
And Draper breaks at the first time of asking after another wild groundstroke from Paul.
03:16 PM BST
(5)Draper* 1-1 (11)Paul
Draper gets on the board first before netting a forehand.
Paul then lasers a backhand down the line to go 15-30 before Draper levels things up and then edges ahead with an ace. Paul then hits backhand long as Draper closes out the game to 30.
03:13 PM BST
First set: (5)Jack Draper 0-1 (11)Tommy Paul*
The American holds to 15, finishing the game at the net with a nice forehand volley into the open court.
03:05 PM BST
Coin toss
Draper won the toss and has elected to receive.
03:02 PM BST
Players are on court
Tommy Paul was first out on Manolo Santana followed by Jack Draper.
Both players looked fairly relaxed walking out.
02:52 PM BST
The moment Berrettini called it a day against Draper
02:50 PM BST
Paul’s match point from the previous round
02:42 PM BST
Arnaldi awaits the winner
Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi booked his place in the quarter-finals after seeing off 16th seed Frances Tiafoe in straight sets earlier.
Sealed in style@mattearnalds overcomes Tiafoe 6-3 7-5 for his second Masters 1000 QF!#MMOpenpic.twitter.com/XDkHhh5E8V
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 30, 2025
Draper and the Italian have never met, while Paul has a 1-0 lead in their head-to-head.
02:33 PM BST
First clay-court meeting
Good afternoon and welcome to coverage of Jack Draper versus Tommy Paul in the fourth round of the Madrid Open.
Fifth seed Draper is yet to drop a set so far in Madrid after, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Tallon Griekspoor in the second round followed by a third-round walkover against 30th seed Matteo Berrettini after the Italian retired at the conclusion of the first-set tie-break which Draper had won 7-2.
Paul, the 11th seed in Madrid, saw off the talented Brazilian 18-year-old Joao Fonseca in two tie-breaks in his second-round match before dropping a set but ultimately coming through against 24th seed Karen Khachanov in round three.
Speaking to Sky Sports yesterday, Draper, who is set to overtake Novak Djokovic in the rankings and move up to No 5 if he reaches the last four, said he was looking forward to the prospect of taking on Paul.
“He’s a great competitor, someone who always shows up and plays really well against me,” said Draper. “We played a few times now, and I think last time he got me at Queen’s. That hurt a lot, so I’m looking forward to this next encounter for sure.”
The Briton leads their head-to-head 3-2 but the American did win the last time they played – a three-set victory in the quarter-finals at Queen’s. This is the duo’s first encounter on clay.
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