Alcaraz applies the resistance manual and defeats a combative Draper

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Carlos Alcaraz once again remembered what it is to suffer and win without showing his best version. This was the recipe he applied at Roland Garros last year and what he is doing at the Rome ATP. He withstood Jack Draper's attacks and showcased his best tennis at key moments of the match to win the duel (6-4, 6-4) and reach the Italian tournament's semifinals for the first time, securing the world number two spot for Paris.

The tournaments leading up to a Grand Slam usually see players at half throttle, last-minute withdrawals, and unexpected winners. But this was not the case at this Rome Masters 1000, where all quarterfinalists were seeds. The match of the day pitted the number three, Carlos Alcaraz, against the number five, Jack Draper.

Besides being the highlight of the day, the match would serve as a gauge for both players. For the Spaniard, to assess if he has fully recovered from his physical issues and aim clearly for the title. For the Briton, to confirm that this year he is one of the players to beat and to prove that his victory over the Murcian at the past Indian Wells was not a mere fluke.

Both had much to prove and both went on the offensive, with nothing to lose, seeking initiative on every point. Both relying on their forehands as the main weapon on a windy afternoon at the Foro Italico in Rome, where gusts threatened to play a major role throughout the match.

"Orderly and brave," Juan Carlos Ferrero urged his pupil as he returned the Brit's tough serves, but it wasn't easy to break through. However, Draper started to find the seams in the world number three's serves, which were less effective, and broke in the sixth game after a double fault by the Spaniard.

Similar to Indian Wells, Draper took the lead, leaving Alcaraz no choice but to roll up his sleeves if he didn't want to see the first set slipping away. So, El Palmar's pride awakened and swiftly recovered the break to level the match (4-4).

Not only did he wake up, but he also seized the moment to unleash his tennis prowess, those bursts where nothing and no one could match him. He broke Draper's serve again and with his own serve, he claimed the first set, progressively improving his play, but awakening in time to pave the way for the semifinals.

What began as a wake-up call continued as a burst and transformed into a storm. Alcaraz enjoyed himself, his forehand running wild, breaking the Brit's infallible serve for the third consecutive time, the final break coming in the opening game of the second set. The Londoner cried out in frustration, while the Alcaraz looked at his bench with determination, knowing he had to seize the opportunity to secure the second set.

However, just when everything seemed to be going too well, one of Alcaraz's typical disconnects appeared, and Draper smelled blood, breaking back in a ten-minute game. The Englishman put aside his regrets and, from being 0-2 down, found himself leading 2-1 with a break opportunity, which the Spaniard defended. Eventually, Alcaraz held his serve, making it 2-2, but with the warning that Draper was still very much in the game.

"You need to take control, it's a game to go for it," Ferrero encouraged, aware of the critical moment of the match, but Alcaraz was struggling to find his footing. "Be clear about one thing, Charlie, only one thing!" Alcaraz scolded himself, realizing the second set was getting complicated and reaching a climax.

At 4-4, everything was left to decide. Either Alcaraz would seal the victory, or Draper would extend the match to a third set. Everything hung by a thread. This is where the resilience of a champion shines through. Alcaraz didn’t play it safe, well aware that the match was right here and that anything could happen if it went to a deciding set.

He sealed the deal with a drop shot, leaving Draper slumped in his chair, thinking about the two break points he had to clinch the second set. By keeping Alcaraz alive, it was almost always synonymous with defeat. And so it was, as the number three, soon to be number two, closed out a match (6-4, 6-4) full of ups and downs, great moments, and above all, resilience. This way, he enters his first semifinals in Rome and sets his sights on the title in Italy.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz aplica el manual de resistencia e inclina a un combativo Draper