Jack Draper delivered a commanding win to stay on course in Madrid, while Swiatek recovered from a 0-6 start.
Jack Draper continued his breakthrough season with a clinical 6-2 6-2 win over Tommy Paul, storming into the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open and strengthening his claim as Britain’s top tennis talent.
The 22-year-old, currently at a career-high world ranking of sixth and seeded fifth in the tournament, dominated from the outset. He broke the American’s serve in the third and seventh games and then closed out the opening set with a flawless hold to love — all inside 32 minutes.
Draper’s thunderous forehand was on full display, contributing to 13 of his 20 winners, while he never faced a single break point. Paul, by contrast, struggled for rhythm, registering just seven winners and racking up 31 unforced errors in a one-sided contest.
The second set saw Paul initially hold firm, saving two break points in the third game. But Draper broke to love in the fifth, unleashed a jaw-dropping forehand to grab a second break at 5-2, and then served out the match with icy composure, wrapping it up in just 67 minutes.
“I felt really good out there,” Draper told Sky Sports afterwards. “I know Tommy’s a great player, so I had to be on him from the start. I think for a lot of UK players, clay is seen as a hurdle, but I’m determined to prove I can play well on this surface.”
Draper now faces Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in the quarter-finals. Arnaldi, fresh from a stunning win over Novak Djokovic, dispatched Frances Tiafoe 6-3 7-5. If Draper defeats the Italian, he could move to world number five — his highest ever ranking.
Meanwhile, the women’s draw saw one of the most bizarre turnarounds of the tournament.
Defending champion Iga Swiatek lost the opening set 0-6 to Madison Keys in just 24 minutes, only to regroup and win 0-6 6-3 6-2 in what she described as “one of the weirdest matches” of her career.
“I didn’t feel like [the first set] was that bad,” Swiatek said. “I felt the ball well – it just kept going long. I tried to shorten my shots, and the momentum eventually shifted.”
The Polish world number two now faces US Open champion Coco Gauff, who saw off 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva 7-5 6-1. Gauff had to save two set points in the opening set before overpowering her young opponent in the second.
Also advancing is Elina Svitolina, who breezed past Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 6-2 6-1, setting up a blockbuster semi-final against world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka came through a bruising battle with Marta Kostyuk, edging both sets in tie-breaks 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (9-7). The match saw the 26-year-old Belarusian dig deep under pressure, saving three set points in the second-set breaker before closing out a hard-fought win.
“Honestly, that was a battle,” Sabalenka admitted. “It wasn’t just about tennis — it was about how you handled your emotions. I’m proud of how I kept it together.”
With top seeds advancing and Jack Draper flying the British flag with growing authority, the Madrid Open is delivering high drama and stellar tennis at every turn.
