mtenis.com.pl

Spaniard will take on Draper in last eight
May 14, 2025
Extended Highlights: Sinner, Alcaraz, Zverev reach Rome 2025 QFs
Jannik Sinner advances at his home ATP Masters 1000 event while Carlos Alcaraz needs three sets to fight off Karen Khachanov. Watch live & on demand at TennisTV.com.

Carlos Alcaraz in action on Tuesday against Karen Khachanov in Rome.
By Andy West
Carlos Alcaraz found his best level when he needed it most on Tuesday at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

The No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings delivered an up-and-down fourth-round performance against Karen Khachanov at the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome, but his peaks proved enough to secure a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory. Alcaraz let slip a break lead in both the second and third sets, including four straight games from 6-3, 3-2 up, but recovered in time to maintain his perfect Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Khachanov.

“It feels amazing to get the win at the end against a really big and really tough guy like Khachanov,” said Alcaraz. “Physically I struggled a bit. Not any pain on any part of the body, but I was just tired. The match was really tough. I had to run a lot, so I’m just really proud of the way I fought for every ball.

“At a break up in the second set, from then to the end of the second set, I probably lost focus a little bit. He started to play great, but I was really happy to forget it and come into the third set as good as I could. I just fought, and I’m really happy about that.”

With his two-hour, 29-minute win, Alcaraz advanced to the quarter-finals in Rome for the first time, and he has now reached that stage at all nine Masters 1000 events. The 22-year-old is the first Spaniard to make the last eight in Rome since record 10-time champion Rafael Nadal in 2021. Jaume Munar could make it two Spaniards in the 2025 quarter-finals later on Tuesday by defeating Casper Ruud.

Now 26-5 for 2025, including a 12-1 record on clay, Alcaraz will take on fifth seed Jack Draper in the semi-finals after the in-form Briton rallied past Corentin Moutet 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. It will be a clash between the first and second-placed players in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. Alcaraz leads 3-2 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, but Draper won their most recent meeting in March en route to the title in Indian Wells.

“Jack is playing great,” said Alcaraz of Draper, who will rise to a career-high No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings next Monday should he win the pair’s quarter-final. “The way he’s playing is really high. I’ve been watching his matches. The way he plays is huge, and I have to be ready for that. I think it’s going to be a great battle.”

As he had in his third-round win against Laslo Djere, Alcaraz struggled to find his rhythm in the opening few games of Tuesday’s fourth-round clash against Khachanov. He dropped serve in the opening game of the match as his opponent stayed solid from the baseline and behind his powerful serve.

Yet after that low-key start, Alcaraz appeared to flick a switch. He reeled off five straight games featuring some typically classy shotmaking that energised the Tuesday morning crowd on Campo Centrale, and the Spaniard seemed to be riding that wave to victory when he pulled off three sublime clean winners to break for 3-2 in the second set.

Pick the Hot Shot of the Month | Vote Now

Khachanov, who had not won a set in his four previous Lexus ATP Head2Head clashes with Alcaraz, did not let himself be shaken by the prospect of another straight-sets defeat. The 23rd seed continued to keep his errors to a minimum, which allowed him to capitalise on a lapse in Alcaraz’s level, reel off four straight games and force a deciding set.

Alcaraz soon forged a 4-1 lead in the third, set but again stuttered as Khachanov refused to lay down in his bid for his maiden Top 3 win on clay. Alcaraz rediscovered his touch in time to escape with the win, however, decisively breaking Khachanov’s serve in the 12th game to seal victory.

Just how close the margins were in the fourth-round clash was reflected in the fact that the defeated Khachanov won more points (98 to 95) than his opponent overall, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Alcaraz produced 29 unforced errors to Khachanov’s 17, but also outhit the 23rd seed by 41 winners to 17.

Spaniard will face Zverev or Musetti next

Carlos Alcaraz
© Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty Images

by Andy West

Rome — May 14

Carlos Alcaraz’s Rome rollercoaster will continue into the semi-finals at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

The Spaniard on Wednesday overcame Jack Draper 6-4, 6-4 at the clay ATP Masters 1000. Alcaraz rallied from 2-4 to claim the first set on Campo Centrale and let slip an early break lead in the second, but his quality shone through in the closing stages en route to a one-hour, 38-minute quarter-final triumph.

“I think the most important thing that I did today was not thinking about the shots at all,” said Alcaraz. “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.

“I played such a high rhythm during the whole match that I didn’t let him dominate or stay long in the rallies. I think that was a really good win today for me, and I’m just really proud about the way I approached the match.”


As well as keeping him on track for his second Masters 1000 trophy of the year (after Monte-Carlo), Alcaraz’s win against Draper also ensured he will on Monday rise above Alexander Zverev to No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings. That will also lock the 22-year-old in as the second seed for the upcoming Roland Garros, where he is the defending champion. As the second seed, Alcaraz is guaranteed to be in the opposite half of the draw to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner at the clay major.

“I just feel that I play great tennis on clay,” said Alcaraz, who also reached a final in Barcelona before missing Madrid due to an adductor injury. “I started the clay season really well. Obviously, it was sad that I got injured after Barcelona, but it’s always difficult to be excited. I’m just excited to keep it going and try to compete as well as I can. I’m just happy to feel the good rhythm, feel the good tennis again here in Rome, and obviously this match has given me a lot of confidence.”



With his Tour-leading 28th win of 2025, Alcaraz advanced to the Rome semi-finals for the first time on his second appearance. His opponent there will be defending champion and second seed Zverev or home favourite Lorenzo Musetti.

Just as he had against Laslo Djere and Karen Khachanov in his previous two matches, Alcaraz produced a performance against Draper that fluctuated dramatically between streaks of shotmaking brilliance and lapses that allowed his opponent to escape from tough positions. Yet Alcaraz still found the consistency required to hold off the fifth-seeded Briton.

The third-seeded Spaniard finished the match having hit 24 winners to Draper’s eight, a tally which more than made up for his 29 unforced errors to his opponent’s 18. Alcaraz was also clinical with his chances on return, converting all four break points he earned in the match, according to Infosys ATP Stats. After defeating Draper in the pair's maiden tour-level clash on clay, Alcaraz leads the lefty 4-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Draper would have risen above Taylor Fritz to No. 4 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings by beating Alcaraz on Wednesday. Despite his defeat, he can reflect on another impressive step forward in his career on clay. He had won just nine tour-level matches on the surface prior to 2025 but has now doubled that tally after reaching the second round in Monte-Carlo, the final in Madrid and the quarter-finals in Rome.

Other critical seeds still up for grabs

Carlos Alcaraz
© Peter Staples/ATP Tour

by ATP Staff

PIF ATP Live Rankings Update — May 14

When Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jack Draper 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, he did more than advance to the semi-finals. The Spaniard also guaranteed that he will be the second seed at Roland Garros.

With his victory against the Briton, Alcaraz now has 8,240 points in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. Alexander Zverev can leave Rome with no more than 8,085 points, locking him into the third seed.

This means that Jannik Sinner, who will be the top seed, and Alcaraz will be on opposite halves of the draw and cannot meet until the final in Paris. Zverev will headline one of the two middle quarters and the fourth seed is still up for grabs.

PIF ATP Live Rankings (as of 14 May)


Player Live Pts Max Pts
1) Jannik Sinner 9,930 10,730
2) Carlos Alcaraz 8,240 8,840
3) Alexander Zverev 7,285 8,085
4) Taylor Fritz 4,625 -
5) Jack Draper 4,610 -
6) Novak Djokovic 4,080 -
7) Casper Ruud 3,905 4,705
8) Lorenzo Musetti 3,660 4,460
Taylor Fritz is currently in line to be the fourth seed. However, Casper Ruud can give himself a chance to earn it by winning his second consecutive ATP Masters 1000 title.


The critical eighth seed is also up for grabs. Lorenzo Musetti is currently in position to claim it and would guarantee at least the eighth seed by defeating Zverev in the Rome quarter-finals. He could enter Paris as high as the sixth seed.

If the Italian loses to Zverev, he would open the door for Tommy Paul. With a Musetti quarter-final loss, Paul would earn the eighth seed by winning the Rome title. A top-eight seed is critical — it means a player will not face another top-eight seed until at least the quarter-finals.

There are two ATP Tour events next week — an ATP 500 in Hamburg and an ATP 250 in Geneva — but the Roland Garros seeds will be determined by Monday's PIF ATP Rankings.