Photo source: TTV
Jack Draper is looking like a Grand Slam champion in the making these days.
And he’s strutting his stuff on the red clay like never before – the type of performance that can do wonders for a ranking.
Draper clocked 20 winners to just seven for Paul on Wednesday in Madrid, as he completed a 6-2, 6-2 takedown of the talented American on short order. A stingy 11 unforced errors led Draper to his first Top-20 win on clay, and put him on the cusp of entering the ATP’s Top-5 for the first time.
If he defeats Matteo Arnaldi in the quarterfinals, that will be another box ticked for the rising Brit.
“The more time I get on this surface, the more I learn how I’m going to be effective,” Draper said on court after recording his fifth consecutive Top-20 win.
Now 17-4 on the season, Indian Wells champion Draper is thriving in 2025, doesn’t matter which surface.
He’s doing it with his trademark menace, striking fear in the heart of his opponents and producing unplayable tennis for long stretches.
“It was really clinical,” he said of the win. “Obviously I knew against Tommy that if you allow him to play the tennis that he can, he's one of the top players in the world. His ranking shows that, and his results also show that as well.
“He got me last time, and I was really fired up for today. I knew it was gonna be a tough challenge, and I'm just really happy with the way I competed and the way I played, and ultimately the way I executed.
We knew the 23-year-old was on a heater this year, but this type of performance on clay is new for the current World No.6. Is Draper surprised that his results have translated to clay this season?
“No, not really,” he said. “I think I knew it’s just always been a matter of time until I do something good on the clay. It feels good to try and keep on proving to myself and everyone else that I’m a good player on this surface, and that I’m dangerous.”
Draper credits his movement – and fitness – for spearheading his uptick on clay.
“I think in the last 12 months, that's somewhere I've really developed,” he said. “Obviously my fitness, I've worked really hard off the court, and I just feel more set in myself.
“For me it’s just been the movement. I didn't grow up on the surface playing lots like maybe, a lot of these players, maybe from South America or Spain or somewhere like that."
If Draper, who entered the week with a 10-12 lifetime record on clay, can ride the hot hand on the red dirt, think what it will do for his ranking. He went 4-6 on clay last year, and picked up 130 ranking points as a reward. By reaching the quarterfinals in Madrid, he already has 180 and if he wins his quarterfinal, make it 360.
He says he’s finally figuring out the right way to play – and taking a page from the Nadal playbook.
“It's kind of learning tactically what shots to play at certain times, and I think that just comes with more competition, more matches, more exposure to playing these top players in the world, and getting a better understanding of how I can be the best I can be,” he said.
“And I think looking for the forehand, looking for my weapons, that’s something I've seen Rafa do since I was young: looking for that forehand. I'm improving all the time, and it's a good challenge for me.”