5 Iron: Draper Flies Into High 5 with Madrid Semifinal

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, Could 1, 2025
Picture credit score: Mutua Madrid Open Fb

Thriving from desert to filth, Jack Draper is an imposing all-surface menace.

Indian Wells champion Draper swept to a double Madrid milestone as we speak rising into the ATP High 5 and his first Tour-level clay-court semifinal.

A dynamic Draper defeated Matteo Arnaldi 6-0, 6-4 flying into the Mutua Madrid Open semifinals and surpassing Novak Djokovic to rise to a career-high No. 5 within the rankings.

The left-handed Draper dictated play successful 11 of 14 second-serve factors. Draper didn’t face a break level in a assured 77-minute win that propels him into historical past.

Draper joins former No. 1 Andy Murray, former No. 4 Tim Henman and former No. 4 Greg Rusedski because the fourth British man in Open Period historical past to crack the High 5.

Indian Wells champion Draper swept to a double Madrid milestone as we speak rolling into the ATP High 5 and his first Tour-level clay-court semifinal.

“I really feel stronger each time I play,” Draper instructed Sky Sports activities in his post-match interview. “The final couple of years coming onto the clay I felt in opposition to these guys I would all the time be the one on the again foot, I would all the time be the one defending.

“The following a part of my recreation was simply getting robust, getting extra succesful bodily to do the issues I do know I can do and bully these guys. My forehand is doing loads of injury and I wish to stick with it.”

The fifth-seeded Draper has not dropped a set in event wins over Tallon Griekspoor, Matteo Berrettini, Tommy Paul and Arnaldi.

Draper will face both towering 6’8″ Canadian fortunate loser Gabriel Diallo or Monte-Carlo finalist Lorenzo Musetti for a spot in Sunday’s last.

Arnaldi slapped a low backhand into the web as Draper broke once more charing to a 5-0 lead after 22 minutes.

Launching himself right into a ferocious forehand, Draper served out a dominant shutout set at love.

The Indian Wells champion served 75 % and received 10 of 12 first-serve factors within the 25-minute opening set.

Arnaldi’s compulsion for the drop shot value him the essential break in recreation 5 of the second set. First, he bumped a forehand dropper into internet to face a break level.

Stubbornly going again to the dropper, Arnaldi put an excessive amount of air on a rainbow dropper, a streaking Draper drilled a backhand crosscourt and broke for 3-2—with a giant serving to hand from his opponent’s vapid shot choice.