When Jack Draper walked into Madrid, few expected the British left-hander to sweep through the draw on clay without dropping a set. Yet, here he is, in the semifinals of a Masters 1000, having dismantled the likes of Tommy Paul, Matteo Berrettini, and now Matteo Arnaldi with a mix of raw power and precision. Next up: Lorenzo Musetti — a natural on clay, finally finding form and rhythm to match his long-praised potential.
Saturday’s semifinal pits two emerging forces in men’s tennis — Draper’s explosive baseline dominance against Musetti’s flair, angles, and footwork. With a spot in the Madrid Open final on the line, this is set to be a gripping battle of contrast and conviction.
Draper Makes a Statement
Jack Draper’s form this week has been nothing short of sensational. In his quarterfinal against Arnaldi, Draper steamrolled the Italian 6-0, 6-4, producing a flawless performance. He didn’t face a single breakpoint and continued a tournament-long trend of not dropping a set.
This isn’t an isolated purple patch. Draper is having a breakout year — semifinalist in Indian Wells, champion of the same, and now on the verge of another Masters final. He’s already taken down Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune in 2025 and is on track to break into the top 5 of the ATP rankings, surpassing even Novak Djokovic.
Madrid’s relatively high altitude has helped his aggressive game style thrive on clay, turning a potential weakness into a platform for dominance.
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Musetti Rising
Musetti, on the other hand, is no stranger to clay. Known for his elegant one-handed backhand and ability to construct points with finesse, the Italian has been equally flawless in Madrid, not dropping a set en route to the semifinals.
He has taken down formidable names — Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur — with the kind of authority that suggests he’s finally putting it all together. After struggling to find consistency at the highest level, Musetti’s 2025 clay swing is starting to mirror the hype that’s surrounded him for years.
Now guaranteed a top-10 debut, he’s becoming only the sixth Italian to reach that milestone — a huge personal and national achievement.
The Matchup: Power vs Precision
Draper leads their head-to-head 3-0, but none of those clashes have come on clay. While Draper’s power-packed game can bulldoze most opponents, Musetti’s movement and tactical variety on this surface give him a realistic shot.
Both players are carrying momentum, but both have also dealt with physical issues in the past. In a best-of-three format at altitude, fitness, recovery, and mental clarity could be just as crucial as forehands and serves.
Draper is riding the wave of confidence and results. Musetti is tapping into his true clay-court identity. Friday’s semifinal might come down to who blinks first — will Draper’s firepower override Musetti’s subtlety, or will the Italian artist script his own high-altitude masterpiece? Madrid is ready for another classic.
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