Jack Draper showed resilience and grit in Rome as he came back from a shaky start to defeat France’s Corentin Moutet and book his spot in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open.
The 23-year-old Brit triumphed 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a spirited contest that lasted just over two hours.
World number five Draper was clearly rattled early on, admitting he was “bamboozled” by Moutet’s unpredictable style and relentless variety of shots.
The Frenchman dominated the first set, leaving Draper visibly fatigued and struggling to find his rhythm.
However, Draper regrouped impressively in the second set. A brief moment of drama unfolded when Moutet questioned a point, believing Draper had hit the ball into the ground.
The Frenchman requested a video review using external technology, but was left frustrated by the camera angles provided.
Ultimately, the point went Draper’s way a pivotal moment that appeared to swing the momentum.
“At one point I was looking at the slides I’d been doing. I was covering the whole court, I don’t know what was going on.
I’ve got a dizziness from it,” Draper told the media after the match. “I was a bit bamboozled in the start, I haven’t played someone like that ever. There’s no doubt I came out a bit all over the place today but I’m in the quarter-finals now and there’s no time to be tired.”
Draper’s ability to stay composed under pressure and adapt to Moutet’s unorthodox tactics proved crucial as he closed out the match with a dominant third set.
Next, Draper faces an even tougher challenge in a quarter-final showdown against reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.
The Spaniard’s explosive game will be a true test of Draper’s form and stamina as the tournament reaches its decisive stages.
