Draper dispatches Paul 6-2, 6-2 to reach quarters at the Masters 1000 in Madrid
It was a short day at the office and a demolition derby for world #6 Jack Draper. The twenty-three-year-old southpaw from Britain rolled over twenty-seven-year-old Tommy Paul in straights to reach the last eight at the Mutua Madrid Open for the first time. The 2025 Indian Wells champ is seeking his second title in two months at the Masters 1000 level.
Paul from Voorhies, New Jersey, achieved a career-high rank of #9 at the start of the season but is currently ranked #12. Although he trailed the head-to-head 2-3, this was their first meeting on the dirt.
With a straight sets win over the 2025 Argentina Open champion Joa Fonseca and a three-set win over former world #8 Karen Khachanov, Paul would have liked his chances to reach his maiden quarterfinal in Madrid.
Draper won the toss and elected to receive. In cool, blustery conditions at Manolo Santana Stadium, Paul opened with an error and closed with a fantastic inside-out forehand volley while Draper struck his first ace to level.
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Paul gifted four forehand unforced errors, faced a double break point, and dumped serve while Draper hit two winners including another ace to consolidate the break for 3-1. Paul opened and closed the fifth with well-struck serves for 2-3. Although he missed 5/6 first serves, the Brit hit two outstanding forehand winners to lead 4-2.
Paul opened the seventh with a winning forehand swing volley but faced a break point and dropped serve following two consecutive unforced errors. Draper served for the set with new balls and with four consecutive winners including his third ace, clinched the set 6-2.
The American served first in the second and held to 30 while Draper held at love to level. Paul opened the third with a volley winner but with his first double fault, faced two deuce and two break points yet held for 2-1 with two terrific winners.
Draper continued to control the center of the court and held to 30 to level while Paul missed 3/4 first serves, faced a triple break point, and dumped serve with a mishit backhand.
Draper hit two additional winners including his fourth ace and held at love for 4-2 while Paul faced two deuce and break point and dropped serve. The world #6 served for the match and though he opened with a double fault, secured victory with a monster inside-in forehand to reach his maiden quarterfinal in Madrid.
The Brit put on a masterclass in a match that had so much promise but failed to deliver as Paul was completely outplayed. In a little over an hour, Draper struck 20 winners to 11 unforced errors while Paul hit 7 winners to 31 unforced errors.
Draper with Paul frequently on the run, won 40/57 of the baseline points with unrelenting power and precision. Draper won 86% of first and a staggering 70% of second serve points without facing a break point.
In their maiden tour-level meeting with a spot in the final four on the line, Draper will battle Matteo Arnaldi.
The twenty-four-year-old from San Remo, Italy is currently ranked #44, with a career high of #30. In four matches he has dropped just one set and eliminated two seeded players in straights including three-time Madrid Open champion and former #1, Novak Djokovic.