Draper edged out by Alcaraz in Rome quarter-finals

British number one Jack Draper has been knocked out of the Italian Open as Carlos Alcaraz showed his quality under pressure to reach the semi-finals.

Draper, 23, was beaten 6-4 6-4 as world number three Alcaraz battled valiantly to save break points at key moments and take his own chances when they came.

Englishman Draper, who is fifth in the ATP rankings, led 4-2 in the first set before Alcaraz fought back to take the lead.

Looking to build on his run to the Madrid Open final last week, Draper recovered in the second set and constantly applied pressure on Alcaraz’s serve.

But he was unable to convert two break points and, after coming through a lengthy eighth game to hold, reigning French Open champion Alcaraz ran with the momentum.

Alcaraz, a first-time Rome semi-finalist, will play Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti or Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the last four.