Photo Source: TTV
Can’t stop won’t stop…
By reaching the semifinals in Madrid, Jack Draper had already assured himself a spot in the ATP’s Top-5 on Monday (he's the fourth British man to ever do it). Never one to be satisfied, Draper wants to celebrate that milestone with the title on Sunday.
He took another step in that direction on Friday at the Magic Box in Madrid, as he edged Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 7-6(4) to reach his first ATP final on clay. Draper had lost all seven of his previous contests against Top 20 players on clay prior to this week, but wins against Tommy Paul and Musetti have changed the narrative: yes, he can play on clay – taking out one of the hottest players on the surface in a high stakes affair is further proof.
“On the clay he’s a different beast,” said Draper of Musetti, who had won 18 of his last 21 matches on clay. “To get this win on this court at this stage of the tournament, it means so much to me.”
It was a tense affair, particularly in the second set, as Musetti held his serve the whole way and looked to be taking over the run of play, but Draper saved the lone break point to hold for 4-4 in the set and dialed in his best tennis for the tiebreak.
Draper clocked 20 winners and 19 unforced errors; Musetti managed 22 winners and 25 unforced errors. The Brit converted two of six break points while Musetti could only muster one of three.
When he locked up the victory he let out a wave of emotion, making it easy to see how much his progress on the clay has meant to him. Yes, we all knew Draper could be a menace on faster surfaces, but to see him take to the clay like this is another example of how fast he is rising at the moment.
The pair’s fourth head-to-head meeting on tour was Musetti’s first chance to get his rival on the clay, but 23-year-old fended off 11th-ranked Musetti to improve to 19-4 on the season. He said this meeting was unlike their previous three, which all ended in straight set victories for the Brit.
“It felt like a different ballgame out there,” Draper said. “It’s so nice to play with someone that you’ve grown up with, and to be both living out your dreams on the biggest court. Both of us have grown as players and people since we last played."
Draper will take on another decorated clay-courter in Norway’s Casper Ruud in Sunday’s final. Ruud, a two-time Roland-Garros runner-up, has won more matches on clay than any other player since 2020.
He defeated Francisco Cerundolo to reach his first final in Madrid earlier on Friday.
But Draper is the one with a Masters title under his belt. Less than two months ago at Indian Wells he ended Carlos Alcaraz’s three-peat bid in the semifinals before waltzing past Holger Ruud in the final. The title was a shot across the bow of the rest of the ATP Tour. If 2024, which saw Draper reach his first Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open, was his coming out party, 2025 could be the next stop on the climb to superstardom.
All signs point to a long stint inside the Top 5 for Draper and, further Grand Slam breakthroughs.
“It obviously gives a little bit of calmness within, to know that I’ve won one,” Draper said. “He made the final of two Grand Slams on the clay at Roland-Garros. He’s a complete pro, and someone who always gives his best. He’s in the final, and he’s playing well – I’m going to have to bring my A game for sure.”