Carlos Alcaraz has won in straight sets despite a strong challenge from Jack Draper to reach the Italian Open semi-finals.
Spain’s Wimbledon and French Open champ was made to work hard on his serve and saved six of the eight break points he faced on Campo Centrale on his way to a 6-4 6-4 victory over Draper, who beat him earlier this year.
The third-ranked Alcaraz, who withdrew from the Madrid tournament due to an upper right leg problem that bothered him during the Barcelona Open final, moved well on the court on Wednesday, often took to the net and used his trademark drop shots and groundstrokes to the best effect.
The four-time grand slam champion, who also had a left leg injury, had lost to Draper in their most recent meeting in the semi-finals at Indian Wells, California, in March.
Alcaraz rallied from 2-4 to claim the first set, and the turning point then came in the eighth game of the second set, when Draper looked set to force a decider.
That game lasted almost 10 minutes and Alcaraz saved two break points before coming out on top and then breaking Draper to love in the next game.
“The most important thing that I did today was not thinking about the shots at all,” Alcaraz said.
“Not thinking about the fact that I was down, just trying to do the things that make me happy.
“On court I just tried to be aggressive, play good shots, drop shots, go to the net. That’s what I like to do on the court, and I think that made the difference today.”
Alacaraz’s next opponent will be either defending champion Alexander Zverev or Lorenzo Musetti, who were meeting later on Wednesday.
