2025 Rome Open ATP M1000 QF -[3] Carlos Alcaraz Garfia (SPN) v/s [5] Jack Alexander Draper (Great Britain)

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Alright folks, here we go, this is the match of this tournament so far (atleast on paper)

H2H -
Alcaraz leads 3-2
Clay H2H -
N/A, this'll be their first match
Last match -
Indian wells 2025 SF, Draper def. Alcaraz 6-1 0-6 6-4 (Alca was the two times defending champion)
Recent success -
Alca has won Monte Carlo M1000, made Barcelona 500 F this season
Draper made it to the Madrid M1000 final & won Indian wells M1000 this season

Both have struggled in their previous round matches, Alcaraz went through a rollercoaster 3 setter to defeat Karen Khachanov (6-3 3-6 7-5) while Draper had to eat a breadstick (or Baguette) at the hands of French player Moutet before coming back to win in 3 (1-6 6-4 6-3). So, neither is in a particularly good form.

Who wins? How many sets?? Vote & discuss

 

[Drighiz]

Impossible to call this one, but if I have to choose I say Draper clinches it in 3.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

This could be match of the tournament. Great match to look forward too!

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Impossible to call this one, but if I have to choose I say Draper clinches it in 3.

I'm leaning there too.
Alcaraz has been way too inconsistent & Draper's lefty FH will make life difficult for him.

 

[Deleted member 827468]

I'm leaning there too.
Alcaraz has been way too inconsistent & Draper's lefty FH will make life difficult for him.

good odds on draper btw, 3x.. so if he wins today some guys can earn good stuff on that

 

[dking68]

I got Alcaraz in 3 but I have been far from impressed with his showing at this tournament. Draper, known for his not so top tier fitness will gas out once it reaches a third set and he's coming fresh from Madrid final.

 

[dking68]

I'm leaning there too.
Alcaraz has been way too inconsistent & Draper's lefty FH will make life difficult for him.

Draper is running low on fumes. He's going to lose this one

 

[Deleted member 746398]

Like Alcaraz, think his movement and physicality is still better on clay than Draper, wouldn't be shocked by either outcome tho

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

Draper in 3, but I just want a thriller!

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

Good game from Draper.

 

[Hitman]

Draper in 3, but I just want a thriller!

Two very entertaining players.

 

[TennisGrandpA]

Carlos seriously needs a new coach, he’s struggling even on clay to win his matches easily.

 

[TennisGrandpA]

With induction of draper in the mix, tour has certainly become more entertaining, as i said before question tennis is saved

 

[TennisGrandpA]

Carlos is just murdering those bhs lol , truly unbelievable with depth and power.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Nothing in it so far. High quality contest.

 

[tudwell]

Draper’s super-compact backhand must be triple @zill certified.

Interesting that Alcaraz is taking the return so early here on the clay. Honestly feel like he could take a step back, especially on the second serve.

 

[Deleted member 746398]

Crazy scrambling from Alcaraz but Draper too good rn

 

[Hitman]

Tasty. Real tasty.

 

[Succession]

I have a feeling Raz won't win many more big titles this season

 

[Deleted member 827468]

tiny wanna break back immediately so bad

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Impressive break back from alcaraz

 

[tudwell]

I have a feeling Raz won't win many more big titles this season

Definitely feels like an off-year, even more so than last year. Needs to regroup, find some clearer direction in his game, and, yes, probably a coaching shift, as everyone’s been screaming about.

 

[TheGoldenEra1990’s]

Drapers return game is just way too suspect

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

Until I saw Jack Draper, I was convinced I was totally straight.

 

[TennisGrandpA]

Impressive break back from alcaraz

He’s good at breaking but he gets broken out of nowhere as well, btw Welcome son!! Where were you? Sinner hype era and you went missing??

 

[TennisGrandpA]

@Hitman have you observed difference in Sinner’s Carlos on natural surfaces vs hard court? It’s a day and night difference , on natural surfaces he just murders the ball with his BH.

 

[TennisGrandpA]

Poor put away volley from Carlos and Draper punished him rightly.

 

[Hitman]

@Hitman have you observed difference in Sinner’s BH on natural surfaces vs hard court? It’s a day and night difference , on natural surfaces he just murders the ball with his BH.

He has been going for it in Rome, some of those BHs yesterday were bullets.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Some great hitting from raz and clutch play too.

 

[TennisGrandpA]

He has been going for it in Rome, some of those BHs yesterday were bullets.

Sorry i meant Carlos , Sinner’s bh is consistently good everywhere

 

[Deleted member 827468]

tiny closing it out finally

 

[TheGoldenEra1990’s]

I got a better chance of pissing in the wind and not getting wet than alcaraz does consistently holding serve

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

He’s good at breaking but he gets broken out of nowhere as well, btw Welcome son!! Where were you? Sinner hype era and you went missing??

Sinner has just come back himself! lol

 

[Racquet_smash]

You'd expect Draper to return at least decently on a slow surface.

 

[Deleted member 746398]

Nice turn around to close out from Raz cleaned up on the unforced nicely

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Alcaraz really stepped it up end of that set. Good stuff!

 

[Drighiz]

Strong end of that first set from Alcaraz!! Fun match. Let's go Jack!

 

[TheGoldenEra1990’s]

Sinner is gonna pound alcaraz if he keeps this form up Draper is a subpar mover and returner especially on clay and he still should have won that set

 

[TennisGrandpA]

Sinner has just come back himself! lol

Sinner is like a wish, whatever his fans are wishing he starts delivering lol. Getting banned was the best could have been to Sinner, he’s fresh and rested and slowly getting in form. He’s absolute favourite imo (for RG)

 

[Hitman]

Sorry i meant Carlos , Sinner’s bh is consistently good everywhere

He has more time on clay to hit his shots.

 

[TennisGrandpA]

I got a better chance of pissing in the wind and not getting wet than alcaraz does consistently holding serve

Let’s not underestimate Carlos, he’s a great player in his own right and as commentator said Carlos has insane high but very inconsistent while Sinner is consistently good. Sinner needs him to become better.

 

[Succession]

Definitely feels like an off-year, even more so than last year. Needs to regroup, find some clearer direction in his game, and, yes, probably a coaching shift, as everyone’s been screaming about.

Yessss, I totally agree. Feels like a reset year too in some way. Maybe even better if he misses out on big titles and considers a change in staff.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Sinner is like a wish, whatever his fans are wishing he starts delivering lol. Getting banned was the best could have been to Sinner, he’s fresh and rested and slowly getting in form. He’s absolute favourite imo (for RG)

He came back so strong. It like he never been away the way he’s striking the ball.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Alcaraz started to hit top level now. He breaks like it’s nothing.

 

[TennisGrandpA]

He has more time on clay to hit his shots.

Even on grass he was murdering the ball with his BH ( last year) did you notice it? Also his return game is far better on grass compared to HC , if he improves his game on HC we are in for a treat between these two sensations.

 

[tennis4jags]

Any live streaming links guys to watch live? TA

 

[Racquet_smash]

Draper is definitely terrible on this surface, he's basically Medvedev 2.0.

Such a poor clay field this is.

 

[Drighiz]

Holy shmuck Jack you can make it not so easy. Some of those shots were half-baked

 

[TheGoldenEra1990’s]

If I’m Draper I just take off the entire season except grass and just worry about Wimbledons and queens the rest of my career. His return game is like a one legged penguin is returning balls

 

[Racquet_smash]

Draper is putting a proper Tsitsipas-esque performance on return.