Draper set for world top five after beating Arnaldi

For the first time in his career, British No. 1 Jack Draper cruised past Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi 6-0, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of the Madrid Open.

In just 25 minutes, Draper, an Englishman, won the first set.

Before Draper broke for good with a fierce cross-court winner to take a 3-2 lead, world number 44 Arnaldi won his first two service matches in the second.

The 23-year-old Englishman won the Indian Wells title in March, held serve, and then won the match in one hour and 17 minutes.

The dominant Draper will overtake Novak Djokovic, who holds the Grand Slam record, to move into the top five on Monday, dropping just 10 points on his serve without a break point.

In his first ATP clay court semi-final, Draper will face Lorenzo Musetti from Italy or Gabriel Diallo from Canada.

Draper said to Sky Sports, “I feel more powerful every time I play.”

The next step in my game was developing the physical stamina to bully these guys because I used to think I would be the one on the back foot, the one defending.

“I’ve been doing everything pretty well in every way, and I’m eager to keep going.” Hopefully, things will continue to come together.

You see, I guess I just want to go after it because Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz don’t have any fear.

“I want to keep up the damage that my forehand is doing.”